A former Olympic athlete now stands accused of operating one of the world’s most formidable drug trafficking networks, with new charges alleging he ordered the assassination of a federal witness.
Ryan Wedding, a Canadian-born snowboarder who once competed on the international stage, was named in a sweeping set of federal indictments. Authorities allege he commands a violent transnational organization responsible for smuggling approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually from Colombia through Mexico and into major distribution hubs, including Los Angeles.
The most severe new allegation involves the murder of a witness in Colombia. Prosecutors claim Wedding used an online platform to publicly post photographs of the witness and his spouse to locate them. The targeted individual was fatally shot at a restaurant in Medellín on January 31, 2025, before he could provide testimony.
The operation is said to work in close coordination with the Sinaloa cartel, designated a foreign terrorist organization, to distribute narcotics across North America. In connection with the sprawling investigation, over 35 individuals have been indicted, and law enforcement has seized more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine alongside a cache of weapons. Authorities have also confiscated over $13 million in physical assets and an additional $3 million in cryptocurrency.
A substantial reward of $15 million is being offered for information leading to Wedding’s capture. He is believed to be heavily protected by cartel associates and remains at large, currently featured on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Federal officials have vowed to continue their pursuit until the alleged criminal network is fully dismantled.
