In a high-impact joint operation, the FBI managed to capture Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and one of the ten most wanted fugitives by American justice.

Wedding, who arrived in handcuffs at Ontario International Airport after being detained in Mexico, is accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking network and orchestrating multiple homicides to protect his criminal operations.

According to investigations, Wedding operated under the wing of the Sinaloa Cartel, directing a complex logistics that transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and southern California, with a final destination in Canada and various regions of the United States.

The former athlete would have remained hidden in Mexican territory for more than a decade, evading charges that were formalized in 2024.

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The FBI captures Ryan Wedding, former Olympic athlete and alleged drug trafficking kingpin, in Mexico

The capture was possible thanks to strategic cooperation between the United States government and the administration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The Department of Justice highlighted that this arrest represents a significant blow to organized crime and underlined the success of the “Ten Most Wanted” program, whose reward was recently increased to $1 million to encourage the location of highly dangerous criminals.

Following his transfer to the United States through the FBI’s aviation and tactical units, Wedding is expected to appear in federal court next Monday.

Authorities noted that this arrest sends a strong message about the global persecution of those who harm citizens, reaffirming the commitment of law enforcement forces to bring long-time fugitives to justice.

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