Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned drug kingpin, Ryan Wedding, has finally been arrested after spending 10 years on the run. Wedding has been on the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted” list of fugitives and FBI Director Kash Patel had equated him to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Details on the arrest will be made public in an announcement by authorities set for 8:00am today in Ontario, California.
The 44-year-old Canadian is accused of being behind one of the world’s most violent drug trafficking organizations. He is facing charges of running a transnational drug trafficking organization responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine a year into Los Angeles via semitrucks from Mexico. He has also been charged with attempted murder and other counts related to the alleged drug enterprise.
Last month, authorities in Mexico seized a horde of rare motorcycles worth an estimated $40 million that Wedding was believed to own, they also seized two Olympic medals and other items at various locations in Mexico City. Authorities stated they believed Wedding was hiding out in Mexico and was being protected by the Sinaloa cartel. Wedding’s reported crime spree began in 2008, 6 years after he represented Canada in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in parallel giant slalom. We will be sure to update this story as more information becomes available.
