In brief
Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been indicted for the murder of a federal witness as part of a multi-national drug trafficking scheme. Authorities allege that Wedding, currently on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, conspired to silence a witness, believing it would protect him from extradition to the U.S. Authorities are offering up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities have indicted Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder from Canada, for the murder of a federal witness related to a multi-national drug trafficking network. This indictment reveals that Wedding orchestrated the killing to evade extradition to the United States.
In the indictment unsealed in California, ten co-defendants were also arrested. The charges link Wedding to the January assassination of a witness in Medellín, Colombia, who had been targeted in a plot believed to assist him in avoiding U.S. criminal charges.
The FBI has placed Wedding on its Ten Most Wanted list, offering a reward of up to $15 million for credible information that could lead to his apprehension. He is suspected of residing in Mexico with connections to the notorious Sinaloa cartel, focusing on shipping vast amounts of cocaine into Canada and the U.S.
“Whether you are a street-level drug dealer or an international drug kingpin, we are coming for you,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi during a press conference announcing the charges. “We will find you, and you will face justice for your actions.”
Known by various aliases, including “El Jefe,” Wedding was accused in 2024 of managing a drug network that trafficked approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually. Authorities indicate that a Canadian website, “the Dirty News,” was used to publicly identify the victim, who was then killed by gunfire in Medellín.
Federal prosecutors in California emphasized that the belief that eliminating the witness would dismiss charges against Wedding was misguided. Bill Essayli, the leading prosecutor, stated, “He was wrong.” The U.S. government is also offering additional rewards of up to $2 million for information regarding others involved in the witness’s murder.
