Ryan Wedding, a 43-year-old former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list for allegedly running a violent transnational drug trafficking network.
Wedding is being accused of shipping hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California to Canada and the US, as well as plamning multiple murders and an attempted murder to further his drug operations.
The US government is currently offering a $10 million (£7.7 million) reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest or conviction. Investigators are suggesting he may be hiding in Mexico but they have not ruled out his presence in the US, Canada, or other Latin American countries.
Ryan Wedding’s Olympic Past and Now Criminal Allegations
Wedding competed in Giant Slalom snowboarding for Canada during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Known by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King,” and “Jesse King,” Wedding is now at the center of a high-profile international manhunt.
In June 2024, Wedding and his accomplice, the then 34-year-old Canadian Andrew Clark, were charged in California with running a continuing criminal enterprise, committing murder in connection with the enterprise, and conspiring to possess, distribute, and export cocaine. Clark was arrested in Mexico last October and was among 29 fugitives extradited to the US last week.
The FBI is alleging that Wedding and Clark ordered the murders of two family members in Ontario, Canada, on November 20, 2023, in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment that passed through Southern California. Another family member survived the shooting but sustained serious injuries.
In addition, Wedding and Clark are accused of ordering the murder of another victim on May 18, 2024, over a drug debt. These violent acts highlight the dangerous nature of Wedding’s alleged criminal enterprise.
FBI Warns Public About Wedding’s Dangerous Behavior
Akil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, described Wedding as a significant threat.
“The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man,” Davis said in a press release, adding “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.”
Ryan Wedding’s International Manhunt
The FBI is urging the public to come forward with any information about Wedding’s whereabouts. Investigators believe he may be hiding in Mexico but have not ruled out his presence in the US, Canada, or other Latin American countries. Wedding’s extensive network and violent tactics make him one of the most sought-after fugitives in the world.
The $10 million reward underscores the seriousness of the manhunt. The FBI is relying on public assistance to locate Wedding, who is considered armed and extremely dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI or their local law enforcement agency immediately.
