The FBI has recently unveiled a newly acquired photograph of Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian fugitive featured on its Ten Most Wanted list. At 44 years old, Wedding is accused of orchestrating a large-scale transnational drug trafficking operation that allegedly moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California, ultimately reaching Canada and various parts of the United States.
U.S. officials have further implicated Wedding in a series of murders intended to safeguard his expansive criminal enterprise. In response to his alleged criminal activities, the U.S. Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program is now offering a staggering reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Wedding’s arrest or conviction.
The FBI has indicated that the photo, believed to depict Wedding in Mexico, was taken during the summer of 2025. The reward for information regarding Wedding was increased in November, coinciding with announcements of additional incentives for information about hitmen involved in the assassination of a potential witness in Medellín, Colombia, earlier in the same year.
From Olympian to Alleged Drug Lord
Ryan James Wedding previously represented Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Following the conclusion of his athletic career, investigators allege that Wedding seamlessly transitioned into organized crime, reportedly establishing a narcotics empire that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled as “one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world.”
Attorney General Bondi described Wedding’s operation as generating over $1 billion annually while trafficking an estimated 60 metric tons of cocaine each year. She emphasized that Wedding stands out as the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada during a press conference held in Washington, D.C. on November 19.
Authorities believe that Wedding is currently residing in Mexico under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. Officials assert he collaborates closely with the cartel to channel Colombian cocaine into North American markets, significantly impacting communities in both Canada and the United States.
New indictments issued in November accuse Wedding of orchestrating the murder of a federal witness who was reportedly shot five times in the head to prevent him from testifying against Wedding. Among the seven individuals arrested in Canada linked to this case was Wedding's attorney, Deepak Paradkar, who allegedly counseled him on the execution of the witness.
In their pursuit of Wedding, the Department of Justice and the FBI are actively coordinating with various government entities including the State and Treasury departments, alongside the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The FBI has made a public appeal, urging anyone possessing information about Wedding's whereabouts to step forward.
