Former Olympian Accused of Running Major Drug Ring and Ordering Witness Murder
You won’t believe this story. Ryan Wedding, the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is now facing some of the most serious criminal charges imaginable. According to the Justice Department, Wedding has been accused of running a massive transnational drug trafficking operation and allegedly ordering the murder of a witness who was set to testify against him.
Authorities say Wedding, 44, is considered the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada and leads what is being described as a "transnational criminal enterprise." The allegations are staggering: he is said to work closely with the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, moving tons of cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. and Canada. Prosecutors claim his organization imports around six metric tons of cocaine each year into Los Angeles alone, using semi-trucks to move the drugs before they are distributed across North America.
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The new indictment specifically accuses Wedding of orchestrating the murder of a witness in Colombia in January. The victim was reportedly shot five times in the head at a restaurant and died instantly. Prosecutors said that Wedding allegedly believed killing the witness would stop criminal charges against him in his 2024 federal narcotics case and prevent his extradition to the U.S. Shockingly, Wedding’s lawyer, identified as Deepak Balwant Paradkar, is also charged for allegedly advising that the witness should be killed to avoid prosecution. Paradkar has been arrested in Canada and is slated for extradition.
Wedding’s criminal record doesn’t stop there. He was previously indicted in Los Angeles federal court on charges that include running a continuing criminal enterprise, committing murder in connection with that enterprise, and multiple drug crimes. Alongside his alleged second-in-command, Canadian Andrew Clark, Wedding is accused of moving hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to Los Angeles, storing it in stash houses, and then transporting it to U.S. and Canadian cities. Multiple murders in Canada are also linked to their efforts to maintain control over their operations.
Despite being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, Wedding has managed to evade capture for years. Officials believe he may currently be in Mexico. The U.S. State Department has now raised the reward for information leading to his arrest to $15 million, and the Treasury Department has sanctioned him and his organization, citing sophisticated money laundering schemes.
It’s hard to reconcile that this man, who once represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics, placing 24th in the parallel giant slalom, is now being compared to a “modern-day Pablo Escobar” by FBI officials. Authorities have emphasized that Wedding is extremely dangerous, extremely wealthy, and protected by the Sinaloa Cartel. Law enforcement continues to hunt him and several associates, promising that they will be brought to justice.
This story is unfolding rapidly, and it’s a stark reminder that someone can go from Olympic podiums to being the target of one of the most intense manhunts in recent memory. The world is watching to see if Ryan Wedding will finally be caught and face the consequences of his alleged crimes.
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