FBI hunts fugitive drug kingpin: Ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding linked to Sinaloa cartel

Former Canadian Olympic Snowboarder Ryan Wedding was added to the US State Department's ten most-wanted list on Thursday for alleged drug trafficking and murder charges. Officials have announced a $10 million reward on his arrest.

Akil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, said, "Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of US cities and in his native Canada. The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man."

The 43-year-old is believed to be in Mexico or another Latin American country. Davis stated in a press conference that Wedding, also known as "El Jefe," "Giant," and "Public Enemy," might be hiding with the help of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel.

Joseph T McNally, acting US attorney, stated, "The defendant, as described in the superseding indictment, played a key role in running a violent, international drug trafficking organization that was responsible for multiple murders," Joseph T McNally said in the statement.

Key Suspect Andrew Clark Set for Court Appearance in Phoenix

Andrew Clark, a Canadian citizen arrested in Mexico, referred to as the right-hand man of Wedding, is set to appear in Phoenix court. He faces multiple charges, including drug trafficking and murder, as part of a massive investigation into an international cocaine smuggling ring.

According to federal authorities, Clark and Wedding sourced cocaine from Colombia, smuggled it into Mexico, and then transported it into the U.S. using long-haul trucks. The drugs were stored in Los Angeles before being trafficked into Canada. In just six months last year, the group allegedly moved over 1,800 kilograms (nearly 4,000 pounds) of cocaine.

Clark and Wedding are also charged for ordering several murders, including the November 2023 killing of a couple visiting Canada from India. Authorities say the victims were mistakenly targeted over a lost drug shipment and were gunned down in front of their daughter, who was shot 13 times but survived. The pair also face charges in the killings of two other individuals in Ontario in 2023 and 2024.

Clark was taken into custody on October 8, 2024, while Wedding remained at large. In total, 16 people have been charged in the case, with eight already arraigned in US courts across Los Angeles, Miami, and Michigan. Some of the accused are set to go on trial starting May 6.