Ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding Arrested in Drug Kingpin Case
Former Olympian Ryan Wedding, accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking empire, is arrested in Mexico after years as a top FBI fugitive.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding has been arrested in Mexico and will be extradited to the United States after years on the run.
Wedding, who was on the FBI's list of ten most wanted fugitives, is accused of running a transnational drug trafficking operation that smuggled tons of cocaine across international borders.
The 44-year-old Wedding also faced murder charges. US authorities had said they believed Wedding was living in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa drug cartel.
The head of Canada's federal police force, which assisted in the investigation, joined Patel on Friday to commend the law enforcement operation.
"No single agency or country can fight transnational organized crime alone," said Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme.
He added, "We can finally say that with Ryan Wedding's arrest, our communities, our country, are much safer."
Wedding is expected to make his first court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday.
Wedding is accused of running a massive drug trafficking operation responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually.
The organization operated throughout North America, as well as in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and was also the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada, generating an estimated $1 billion annually.
Prior to his arrest, Wedding was charged with the murder of a federal witness in a case against him. Authorities say he also ordered the murders of several other individuals.
Wedding now faces numerous serious charges, including witness tampering and intimidation, murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
The FBI had previously offered a $15 million (£11 million) reward for information leading to his arrest. Patel declined to comment on whether anyone would claim the reward money. U.S. officials have released limited information about how Wedding was apprehended, other than that his arrest took place Thursday night in Mexico City.
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Mexico's top security official, Omar García Harfuch, said in a post on X that Patel traveled to Mexico City on Thursday and returned with two fugitives who were on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list.
He did not name the individuals arrested, but said one was a "Canadian citizen who voluntarily surrendered at the U.S. embassy in Mexico." The Associated Press, citing an unnamed Mexican security cabinet member, reported that Wedding was the Canadian who surrendered at the U.S. embassy.
Speaking at a press conference, Patel described Wedding as "today's Pablo Escobar," referring to the Colombian cartel leader. U.S. officials have also compared him to Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
"When you go after a guy like Ryan Wedding, it takes a coordinated effort," Patel said, and thanked Canadian and Mexican authorities for their assistance in the investigation.
Patel also thanked the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, which participated in taking Wedding into custody.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Patel praised the team, which was also involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a few weeks earlier.
"It was a complex, very risky operation with no room for error," Patel told the magazine.
"I was on the ground in Mexico with my team and witnessed extraordinary teamwork, precision, and trust between our agents and our partners in Mexico."
The FBI said Wedding's aliases included "El Jefe," "Giant," "Public Enemy," "James Conrad King," and "Jesse King." He reportedly underwent plastic surgery to alter his appearance while on the run.
Authorities allege that after his release from a U.S. federal prison in 2011, where he served time for cocaine distribution, he resumed his criminal activities.
Authorities claim he ordered dozens of murders worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
Authorities say he was living a lavish lifestyle in Mexico. In December, Mexican authorities announced they had seized $40 million worth of racing motorcycles owned by Wedding. They also seized other valuables, including luxury paintings, artwork, drugs, and two Olympic gold medals.
It's unclear who the medals belong to. Wedding competed for Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics but did not win any medals. He finished 24th in the men's giant parallel slalom skiing event.
In November, the FBI seized his rare 2002 Mercedes CLK-GTR, valued at $13 million.
Patel also spoke about the recent arrest in Mexico of another individual who was on the FBI's most-wanted list.
The American man, Alejandro Castillo, was wanted for the murder of his former girlfriend. According to the FBI, he had been hiding in Mexico for about 10 years and will now be extradited back to North Carolina for trial.
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