The FBI has added former Olympian and Canadian national Ryan Wedding to its list of top 10 most wanted fugitives. A reward of up to $10 million is being offered for his capture. Wedding is wanted for allegedly running a transnational drug trafficking network that shipped cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other U.S. locations. He is also accused of orchestrating multiple murders and an attempted murder in connection with these drug crimes. FBI Los Angeles chief Akil Davis stated that Wedding’s alleged criminal activities have transformed him from an Olympic snowboarder to a dangerous drug trafficker distributing cocaine on the streets of the U.S. and Canada.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the $10 million reward for Wedding’s capture, and the FBI is offering an additional $50,000 for information leading to his arrest. Wedding, who also goes by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King,” and “Jesse King,” has a previous conviction in the U.S. for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and served prison time. Despite a federal arrest warrant being issued for him in September of the previous year, he has not yet been apprehended. The FBI emphasizes his dangerous nature, citing that the alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous individual, warranting his inclusion on the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.
The announcement of Wedding’s addition to the most wanted list comes shortly after the capture of one of his alleged accomplices, Andrew Clark, a Canadian citizen living in Mexico. Clark was arrested by Mexican authorities in October 2024 and is set to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Arizona soon. The indictment against Wedding and his associates alleges a conspiracy to transport shipments of cocaine from Los Angeles to Canada using long-haul semi-trucks. Wedding is facing charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to export cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise, murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise, and attempt to commit murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime.
The FBI’s move to add Wedding to the most wanted list and the substantial reward offer for his capture reflect the severity of his alleged criminal activities. Wedding’s transition from being an Olympian to a criminal mastermind involved in drug trafficking and heinous crimes underscores the dangers he poses to communities in the U.S. and Canada. With the public being encouraged to assist in locating and apprehending him, the focus is on ensuring his capture before he can cause further harm to others. The recent capture of his alleged accomplice, Andrew Clark, points to progress in dismantling the drug trafficking network he is accused of leading. As efforts continue to bring Wedding to justice, the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and public engagement will be crucial in achieving this goal.
