The story of Ryan James Wedding is one of the most shocking transformations in recent headlines—a Canadian Olympic snowboarder who soared to fame in the 2002 Winter Games, and now a central fugitive at the top of the FBI’s Most Wanted list. The extraordinary rise and fall of Ryan James Wedding has now escalated with a global manhunt, high-profile arrests across continents, and a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Champion on the Slopes
Ryan James Wedding represented Canada in the men’s parallel giant slalom at the Salt Lake City Olympics. For years, his name was associated with athletic achievement and determination. But after leaving professional sports, Wedding’s life reportedly took a drastic, criminal turn.
The US Department of State offers a reward of up to $15 million for info leading to the arrest &/or conviction of #FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Ryan James Wedding, wanted for allegedly running & participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation: https://t.co/YyLpIU4Nmi pic.twitter.com/3DdiopiL9W
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) November 19, 2025
Descent Into Crime
Authorities accuse Wedding of masterminding a sprawling, violent cocaine trafficking empire that stretches from Colombia and Mexico into North America. Investigations reveal how Wedding’s organization, allegedly a “modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar,” laundered profits, ordered assassinations, and moved enormous amounts of drugs through international corridors. According to federal indictments, Wedding is believed to have orchestrated the January 2025 assassination of a federal witness in Colombia—a witness connected to earlier murder charges in Ontario. This brazen act triggered global arrests of his associates, ranging from criminal lawyers to musicians and tech entrepreneurs, who allegedly supported his syndicate.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said a newly unsealed indictment accuses former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding of tracking down and posting photos on a Canadian website called "The Dirty News" of a witness… to facilitate his murder in Medellin Colombia before… pic.twitter.com/uCVupafqO7
— cbcwatcher (@cbcwatcher) November 19, 2025
Operation Giant Slalom
In a sweeping cross-border operation named “Giant Slalom,” authorities arrested at least ten key associates, including a Canadian lawyer accused of facilitating murder plots, a reggaeton musician, and the co-founder of a notorious “gangland news” website. More than thirty individuals have now been arrested or are being sought in connection with the Wedding criminal network. The operation has been hailed as one of the largest and most successful crackdowns on international narcotics trafficking in recent years.
The Hunt for Ryan James Wedding
Despite the arrests and asset seizures, Ryan James Wedding remains at large. Law enforcement believes he is currently hiding in Mexico, using connections within organized crime to evade capture. His reach reportedly stretches into the United States, Canada, Central America, and beyond. The U.S. State Department and FBI recently raised the reward for information leading to his arrest to $15 million—the highest ever for a fugitive from Canada.
Charges and Notoriety
Wedding faces a host of serious charges, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise, three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and extensive drug trafficking. FBI Director Kash Patel has compared Wedding’s criminal influence to notorious cartel leaders, labeling him a grave threat to communities across North America.
Cultural Fallout and Media Response
While on the run, Wedding’s dramatic story has attracted major media coverage and is now the subject of an upcoming TV documentary titled Snow King: From Olympian to Narco, based on an investigation by Rolling Stone. The documentary will explore Wedding’s startling transformation and the international net slowly closing in around him.
Conclusion
The shocking saga of Ryan James Wedding is a cautionary tale of how fame and success can descend into criminal infamy. As law enforcement agencies coordinate across over five countries to bring him to justice, Wedding’s case stands as one of the most remarkable and chilling in recent history—a world-class athlete now at the center of an international criminal empire.