Authorities are seeking a former Canadian snowboarder who has competed in the Olympic Games, as he is allegedly linked to a violent drug cartel responsible for murder and the trafficking of significant quantities of Colombian cocaine from Mexico to both the United States and Canada.
Ryan Wedding, 43, is identified as the primary suspect among 15 individuals charged in connection with the cartel, according to a joint statement released on Thursday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Investigators allege that Mr. Wedding ordered the murders of three individuals, including an innocent couple from Ontario, who were tragically killed in a case of mistaken identity in 2023.
Having competed in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Mr. Wedding is currently believed to be evading capture in Mexico, according to officials.
The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 (£38,000) for information leading to his arrest, cautioning that he should be regarded as “armed and dangerous.”
Matthew Allen, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Los Angeles, stated that Mr. Wedding and his alleged associates “have sparked a surge of violent crimes, including horrific murders.”
He further remarked that Mr. Wedding has “transitioned from navigating slopes to orchestrating a life filled with relentless criminal activity.”
Mr. Wedding is reportedly known by several aliases, including “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy.” He faces a total of eight felony charges, which encompass drug trafficking, three counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder.
Authorities assert that he and fellow Canadian Andrew Clarke operate “a Canada-based drug transportation network” utilizing trucks and stash houses to move Colombian cocaine from Mexico to the US and Canada.
Additionally, officials claim that this gang is implicated in multiple shootings within the Peel Region, located in the Greater Toronto Area.
