Federal officials on Wednesday announced a sweeping set of new charges against Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder for Canada who is now accused of running a violent international drug trafficking network. Wedding has been on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for more than a year, and authorities say the new charges reflect the escalating severity of his alleged crimes.
According to the Justice Department, the latest indictment adds murder, witness tampering, money laundering, and large-scale drug trafficking to the long list of accusations already filed against him. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the most serious charge stems from Wedding’s alleged role in the killing of a federal witness in Colombia — an individual who was cooperating in the government’s ongoing case.
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“Protecting federal witnesses from retaliation is core to the department’s mission,” Bondi said during the announcement. “It’s about individual safety, but more importantly, it’s about protecting the rule of law itself.”
A Fugitive for More Than a Year
Authorities across multiple countries have been searching for Wedding, who vanished after being charged in 2024 with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, murder, and other offenses. His ability to evade capture has prompted a major federal response, and Bondi confirmed Wednesday that the State Department has raised its reward for information leading to his arrest from $10 million to $15 million — one of the largest rewards currently offered for a fugitive.
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Investigators say Wedding oversaw a massive cocaine pipeline that moved shipments from Colombia through Mexico and into the United States and Canada, generating enormous profits while deploying extreme violence to protect the operation.
Violent Acts Across Multiple Countries
Federal officials allege that Wedding’s organization is responsible for at least four murders, including a tragic case in Canada in which two members of the same family were mistakenly identified and targeted in retaliation for a lost drug shipment. According to prosecutors, the group relied on intimidation, kidnapping, and targeted killings to maintain control of its territory and profits.
Wedding is also facing separate drug trafficking charges in Canada, where authorities say he played a central role in cross-border distribution networks. Investigators believe he is currently hiding in Mexico, though they have not ruled out the possibility that he is moving between several countries.
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International Arrest Efforts Continue
More than a dozen individuals connected to the organization have already been arrested in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, and Canada. However, the search for Wedding — described by officials as the “architect” of the network — remains the top priority.
Federal agencies say the increased reward, combined with new cooperation agreements with international partners, signals a renewed push to bring Wedding into custody.