Former Canadian Olympian added to FBI’s most wanted fugitives list

Canadian Press

Published Mar 06, 2025 • 1 minute read

Ryan James Wedding is seen here competing for Canada in the qualifying round of the men's parallel giant slalom snowboarding event during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah, in 2002. Photo by Adam Pretty /Getty Images

A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder wanted in the U.S. on multiple charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a transnational drug trafficking ring has been added to the FBI’s list of 10 most wanted fugitives.

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Ryan James Wedding is wanted for allegedly leading an organized crime group that moved large shipments of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and California to Canada and other locations in the United States.

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U.S. authorities say the 43-year-old born in Thunder Bay, Ont., who competed for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, had been living in Mexico and is considered a fugitive.

The U.S. Department of State is offering a $10-million reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest or conviction.

Wedding — whose aliases include “El Jefe” and “Public Enemy” — is facing eight felony charges, including conspiracy to export cocaine, three counts of murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and one count of attempted murder. He is one of 16 people charged in the alleged drug ring.

The charges have not been proven in court.

The Department of Justice and other U.S. law enforcement officials are seeking former Olympic Canadian snowboarder Ryan James Wedding for drug trafficking and murder. Photo by Handout /FBI

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