Former Olympian Ryan Wedding reportedly in custody as FBI, RCMP prepare update
Multiple outlets report former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is in custody in Mexico. The FBI will give details at an 11 a.m. Eastern news conference.
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By Torontoer Staff
Multiple reports indicate Canadian former Olympian Ryan Wedding is in police custody in Mexico, after being named on the FBI’s 10 most wanted fugitives list in connection with an alleged transnational drug-trafficking operation. An FBI news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern, where officials say they will announce a significant development.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Michael Duheme are expected to speak from Ontario International Airport, east of Los Angeles. Patel confirmed on the social platform X that Wedding has been arrested and is being transported to the United States to face charges.
What authorities have said so far
The FBI first publicly named Wedding in a superseding indictment released in October 2024. U.S. authorities have accused him of running a multimillion to multibillion-dollar drug-trafficking network that allegedly moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, into the United States and Canada.
Officials say nine other Canadians were named in that indictment. The FBI has alleged the organisation used planes, boats and long-haul semi-trucks to move narcotics. The agency offered a US$15 million reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest.
Wedding is being transported to the U.S. to face justice.
Kash Patel, FBI director
Patel previously described Wedding as “the modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar,” a characterization the agency made while seeking public assistance in locating him. The details of the arrest, including who detained him and when, have not been fully disclosed.
Allegations and prior incidents
The FBI alleges the trafficking operation was violent. The indictment says several murders were carried out in furtherance of the scheme, including at least four in Ontario and one in Colombia. Authorities say one Colombian victim was a key witness in the case against Wedding.
U.S. authorities say Wedding resumed trafficking after a 2010 conviction. That conviction followed an arrest in which Wedding attempted to buy cocaine from a U.S. government agent. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
Earlier incidents associated with Wedding include being named in a 2006 Maple Ridge, B.C., search warrant into an illegal grow operation, though he was not charged in that matter. Canadian authorities have also said Wedding faces outstanding drug-trafficking charges that date back to 2015.
Recent case developments and associates
Nine Canadians were named in the 2024 superseding indictment. One alleged second-in-command, Andrew Clark, was arrested in 2024 and extradited to the United States in early 2025 to face charges in California, according to authorities.
The FBI has identified Los Angeles as a key hub for the network’s operations. The agency says shipments moved through Southern California on their way to Canada and other U.S. destinations.
Wedding’s athletic background
Ryan Wedding represented Canada in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th. His prior public profile as an athlete contrasts sharply with the scale of the criminal allegations against him.
How to follow the news conference
The news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern at Ontario International Airport. CTVNews.ca and CP24.com have said they will stream the event live and provide updates as it unfolds.
- 11:00 a.m. Eastern: planned news conference with FBI and RCMP officials
- Live streams: CTVNews.ca and CP24.com
- What to expect: confirmation of custody and details on charges and extradition
Timeline at a glance
- 2002: Competed for Team Canada at Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
- 2006: Named in a B.C. search warrant into a grow operation, not charged
- 2010: Convicted after attempting to buy cocaine from a U.S. government agent, sentenced to four years
- 2015: Canadian authorities say unresolved drug-trafficking charges date from this year
- October 2024: FBI issues superseding indictment naming Wedding among 16 defendants
- 2024–2025: Andrew Clark, alleged second-in-command, arrested and extradited to the U.S.
- January 2025: Reports indicate Wedding has been arrested in Mexico and is being transported to the U.S.
Officials have released limited information about where and how the arrest took place. Federal and Canadian agencies are expected to provide additional details at the scheduled briefing.
This is a developing story. We will update this article as authorities release more information.
Ryan WeddingFBIRCMPdrug traffickingcrime
