Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding has been arrested in Mexico and will be extradited to the US after years on the run, FBI Director Kash Patel has said. Wedding, who had been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, is accused of running a transnational drug trafficking operation that moved tonnes of cocaine across international borders.
Wedding, 44, was wanted on murder charges. US officials believed he 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, commended the law enforcement operation. No single agency or nation can combat transnational organized crime alone, said Mike Duheme, Commissioner of the RCMP, adding that communities are now safer with Wedding's arrest.
Wedding is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.
He is accused of operating a drug trafficking organization responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tonnes of cocaine a year, generating an estimated $1 billion annually. This organization was recognized as the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada.
Prior to his arrest, Wedding was indicted on charges of witness tampering, intimidation, murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking, with a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his capture.
Details surrounding his arrest remain vague, but reports suggest he turned himself into authorities at the US embassy. His aliases include El Jefe and Giant, and he reportedly altered his appearance to evade capture. Allegations also link him to numerous murders across the Americas.
Officials stated that he lived lavishly in Mexico, with reports of seized assets valuing millions, including luxury motorcycles and rare cars. Wedding represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics but did not win any medals. As he now faces serious felony charges, authorities highlight the collaborative effort necessary to bring such criminals to justice.
Wedding, 44, was wanted on murder charges. US officials believed he 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, commended the law enforcement operation. No single agency or nation can combat transnational organized crime alone, said Mike Duheme, Commissioner of the RCMP, adding that communities are now safer with Wedding's arrest.
Wedding is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.
He is accused of operating a drug trafficking organization responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tonnes of cocaine a year, generating an estimated $1 billion annually. This organization was recognized as the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada.
Prior to his arrest, Wedding was indicted on charges of witness tampering, intimidation, murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking, with a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his capture.
Details surrounding his arrest remain vague, but reports suggest he turned himself into authorities at the US embassy. His aliases include El Jefe and Giant, and he reportedly altered his appearance to evade capture. Allegations also link him to numerous murders across the Americas.
Officials stated that he lived lavishly in Mexico, with reports of seized assets valuing millions, including luxury motorcycles and rare cars. Wedding represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics but did not win any medals. As he now faces serious felony charges, authorities highlight the collaborative effort necessary to bring such criminals to justice.
