Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, Ryan Wedding, has found himself at the center of an intense manhunt led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Aged 43, Wedding has been branded as a key figure in a clandestine, violent drug smuggling operation with a global reach.
Accused of masterminding a network that trafficked vast quantities of cocaine from Colombia, through the United States, to Canada, Wedding is also linked to a string of brutal murders carried out in the pursuit of expanding his criminal empire. His notoriety has earned him a spot on the FBI’s notorious 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.
The United States has issued a staggering reward of up to $10 million for any information that could lead to Wedding’s capture or conviction. While investigators suspect his current whereabouts to be in Mexico, they have not discounted the possibility of him moving through various countries, including the US, Canada, and other parts of Latin America.
Wedding, a known competitor in Giant Slalom snowboarding representing Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, is no stranger to the limelight. Under the aliases “El Jefe,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King,” and “Jesse King,” he has managed to evade authorities for far too long.
In a startling turn of events, Wedding’s partner in crime, Andrew Clark, 34, has already faced the consequences of their illicit activities. Clark, also a Canadian national, was apprehended by Mexican authorities and subsequently extradited to the US among a group of 29 fugitives.
The duo faces a slew of charges, including operating a criminal enterprise, orchestrating murders tied to their illicit activities, and engaging in the trafficking of cocaine across borders. The FBI’s investigation has uncovered a chilling trail of violence, including the targeted killing of family members in Ontario, Canada, allegedly as retribution for a drug shipment gone awry.
One such incident on November 20, 2023, resulted in the deaths of two individuals, while another family member narrowly escaped with severe injuries. Furthermore, Wedding and Clark are implicated in the murder of an individual over a drug-related debt in May 18, 2024, underscoring the ruthlessness of their criminal endeavors.
Highlighting the urgency to bring Wedding to justice, Akil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger,” stated Davis in a recent press release.
As authorities intensify their efforts to track down Wedding, the specter of his criminal activities
