Mexico City saw a stunning twist Friday as 44-year-old Ryan Wedding, a one-time Canadian Olympic snowboarder, was taken into custody after more than a year on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted fugitives list. The arrest brings to an end a long and sprawling hunt that spanned continents, crossed borders and tied a celebrated athlete’s name to some of the most serious crime charges in recent memory.
Federal authorities say Wedding was arrested Thursday night in Mexico City before being flown to the United States to face charges related to a massive drug trafficking network and several alleged murders linked to that operation. The Department of Justice and FBI publicly confirmed his capture on January 23, 2026.
Wedding’s journey from Olympic snow slopes to the U.S. most-wanted list reads like a dramatic fall from grace. Born in Ontario, Canada, he represented his country in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom event. At the time, he was known for his athletic skill and competitive drive; now his name headlines headlines for alleged crimes that federal prosecutors have described as violent and far-reaching.
According to U.S. officials, Wedding is accused of running a sprawling transnational cocaine trafficking ring that moved multi-ton quantities of drugs from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada. Authorities allege the network generated illegal proceeds measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually and operated with the backing or protection of powerful cartel elements. Federal prosecutors have linked the alleged organization to at least one murder of a federal witness in Colombia, and multiple other violent acts designed to protect the enterprise.
The FBI labeled Wedding one of its most dangerous fugitives, and law enforcement offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. The agency’s director praised the international cooperation that made the arrest possible, with authorities from the United States, Mexico, and Canada working together on the case for months.
Court documents and federal filings show murder, drug trafficking, conspiracy and witness tampering as among the charges Wedding now faces in U.S. courts. In announcing the arrest, officials also said that at least 36 others tied to the alleged criminal enterprise have been detained, and authorities have seized drugs, cash, weapons, vehicles and other assets connected to the ring.
Investigators say Wedding had been hiding in Mexico for more than a decade, living under assumed names and allegedly allied with criminal networks that helped shield him from justice. Despite his long time as a fugitive, law enforcement’s persistent efforts finally caught up with him in Mexico City late in January, marking a major milestone in the pursuit of one of the FBI’s most notorious targets.
Wedding’s extradition to the United States sets the stage for a high-profile federal case. Prosecutors in California and other jurisdictions are expected to present evidence that could include drug trafficking across international borders, the use of hired killers, and efforts to evade law enforcement for years. The coming months will show whether the former Olympian will be convicted and how his dramatic story shapes out in court.
