Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged cocaine kingpin in US custody

January 23, 2026

TL;DR

Ryan Wedding, a Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested in Mexico after surrendering at the US embassy.
He is wanted by the FBI and RCMP for his alleged role in a major drug-trafficking organization.
Wedding faces charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, witness tampering, and money laundering.
US authorities allege his organization moved nearly 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into Los Angeles from Mexico.
He is also accused of ordering the murder of an FBI witness and other individuals.
The arrest is part of a joint investigation called Operation Giant Slalom.
Wedding was added to the FBI's Most Wanted List in March 2025.
Authorities seized a $15m Mercedes sports car and $40m worth of motorcycles during the operation.
Another wanted fugitive, Alejandro Rosales Castillo, was also arrested.
Some analysts question the extent of Wedding's role and the impact of the arrests on drug supply.

Continue reading the original article