Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.

To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.

32,111FollowersFollow
32,214FollowersFollow
11,243FollowersFollow

Catagories

Company:

Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Former Olympic Snowboarder Accused of Running Major Drug Trafficking Operation

 

 

LOS ANGELES, CA – A former Olympic snowboarder has been accused of leading a massive transnational drug trafficking organization, shipping large quantities of cocaine, and allegedly hiring hitmen to carry out multiple murders, according to federal officials.

Essential Survival Gear You Need Before the Next Hurricane Hits

Ryan Wedding, 43, a Canadian Olympian who now resides in Mexico, is one of 16 individuals charged in a federal indictment, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Thursday.

The “prolific and ruthless” crime group is alleged to have transported “literally tons of cocaine into the United States and Canada,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada during a press briefing. “They were killers,” Estrada added, noting that the organization would resort to violence, including murder, to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to their operations.

Wedding is accused of orchestrating the billion-dollar drug operation for the past 13 years from Mexico, according to Estrada. The organization is alleged to have moved approximately 60 tons of cocaine per year. At one point, the group reportedly used the Los Angeles area as a hub, moving shipments from drug kitchens in Colombia to stash houses in Los Angeles before distributing the cocaine to Canada and the East Coast of the U.S.

The indictment claims Wedding and others amassed billions of dollars, allegedly laundering funds through cryptocurrency. Prosecutors stated that between April and September, the organization laundered approximately $250 million.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement officials seized over one ton of cocaine, along with three firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, $255,400 in U.S. currency, and more than $3.2 million in cryptocurrency.

The indictment also alleges that the group used contract killers to assassinate those who interfered with their activities. Several victims were shot execution-style in Canada, in incidents designed for their loved ones to witness, prosecutors said.

One such case involved two parents who were murdered in front of their daughter in 2023 due to mistaken identity, according to Estrada. The daughter, who was also shot multiple times, survived the attack. In another case, a victim was killed in May over a drug debt, while a fourth individual was murdered in April.

Charges in the 16-count superseding indictment include drug trafficking, criminal enterprise charges, and murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise.

Former Olympic Snowboarder Accused of Running Major Drug Trafficking Operation

Many of the defendants were arrested in recent weeks across California, Michigan, Florida, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico. Several are expected to appear in court next week in Los Angeles, Michigan, and Miami.

Wedding, who is still at large, is considered a fugitive. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest. Wedding, also known by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy,” had been previously charged in an earlier indictment and is now the lead defendant in the superseding indictment.

A former athlete, Wedding competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he placed 24th in the giant parallel slalom.

If convicted on the charges of murder and attempted murder, Wedding faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in federal prison. The continuing criminal enterprise charges also carry a mandatory life sentence, according to the DOJ.

Follow Us On Social Media:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Twitter

All Catagories

Scratch & Win
Show