Hunted by the FBI: Olympic athlete becomes a drug lord

Former professional snowboarder Ryan James Wedding from Canada is wanted by the US authorities for drug trafficking and commissioned murders. The US prosecutor's office also accuses the 43-year-old of running a criminal enterprise and other crimes.

"An Olympic athlete turned drug lord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime gang that trafficked cocaine and committed murder, including of innocent civilians," the AP news agency quoted Los Angeles prosecutor Martin Estrada as saying. The FBI has offered a $50.000 reward for information leading to Wedding's capture.

The #FBI offers a reward of up to $50,000 for info leading to the apprehension, arrest & extradition of Ryan James Wedding, wanted for alleged involvement in a transnational drug trafficking operation & multiple murders in furtherance of these drug crimes: https://t.co/RFdFwKgSaf pic.twitter.com/YY6s8pmPqx

— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) October 17, 2024

According to the report, Wedding, who was also known under the code names "El Jefe," "Giant," and "Public Enemy," was the head of a drug ring that transported around 60 tons of cocaine annually from Colombia via Mexico and California to Canada and parts of the United States. The FBI tracked down the organization and subsequently carried out raids in Florida, Michigan, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico.

Contract killings as retaliation A total of 16 people have been charged, with Wedding being the main defendant. Wedding, who finished 2002th in the parallel giant slalom at the 24 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, and another imprisoned defendant (34) from Canada are said to have commissioned at least three murders. According to them, two members of a family in Ontario, Canada, were killed in 2023 at their behest in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment. However, this was said to have been a case of mistaken identity. This May, another victim is said to have been murdered on the orders of the two because of drug debts.

Ex-Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding is facing federal charges for allegedly ordering killings as part of a North American cocaine trafficking ring.

Tap this link to learn more: https://t.co/3G5IYmhhn6 pic.twitter.com/I4UYGDrYIi

— CBS LA (@CBSLosAngeles) October 17, 2024

Wedding was sentenced to four years in prison in the US in 2010 for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. After his release, he is said to have returned to drug trafficking and, according to US authorities, is protected by the notorious Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, where he is said to live.

According to authorities, cocaine, weapons, ammunition, cash and more than three million dollars in cryptocurrency were seized in connection with the investigation. Wedding has also been charged with various crimes in Canada since 2015.

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Hunted by the FBI: Olympic athlete becomes a drug lord

He once competed in the Olympic Games, but now he is a drug baron and is wanted for murder, among other things. It is a blatant case involving a Canadian ex-snowboarder.

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