Ryan Wedding: From Olympic Snowboarder to Alleged Drug Trafficker

Ryan Wedding, an Olympic snowboarder known for his ambition, has taken a dark turn in his life. A former teammate described him as a “fearless” competitor who craved fame, but when that dream faded, his desire for wealth and power spiraled out of control.

Wedding, who represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, pleaded not guilty on Monday to 17 federal charges, including drug trafficking, witness tampering, and conspiracy to commit murder.

The 44-year-old, also called “El Jefe” and “Public Enemy,” was arrested in Mexico last week—10 months after being placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

According to his teammate, Wedding was once a promising talent, full of ambition but perhaps driven too much by the pursuit of money. “He always wanted to be a big name,” the teammate noted. “Nothing would stop him from getting what he wanted.”

Currently, Wedding is being held without bail in Santa Ana. Authorities suspect he was connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, which allegedly smuggled millions of dollars in cocaine from Colombia through Mexico, ultimately distributing it in the U.S. and Canada.

There are also suspicions that he ordered “multiple murders of victims and government witnesses.” Wedding reportedly evaded capture for over a decade while hiding in Mexico.

FBI Director Kash Patel recently dubbed Wedding “one of the greatest drug traffickers of our time,” comparing him to notorious figures like El Chapo or Pablo Escobar.

This narrative starkly contrasts with Wedding’s earlier life, where he was once celebrated for winning his first snowboarding race at age 12. It’s said he even cuddled a teddy bear at night while the older kids partied. Interestingly, his grandparents owned a ski club, which likely fueled his early interest in the sport.

Bobby Allison, a former national champion ski racer, remarked that Wedding was always different from other kids. “A lot say they want to go fast but are usually hesitant. That wasn’t Ryan’s case,” he recalled.

Wedding became part of the Canadian national ski team at just 15 years old and was only 20 when he competed in the 2002 Olympics. However, he finished a disappointing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom, with teammates claiming bad weather played a role in his performance.

He began to change significantly after this setback, reportedly unhappy with his Olympic experience. Encouraged by his family to pursue a more traditional career, he enrolled in college but also started working as a bouncer in a nightclub that attracted gang members.

Before long, Wedding began adopting a more flamboyant lifestyle, including expensive watches and flashy cars. Reports suggest that in 2015, he unknowingly met with an undercover cop discussing plans for a massive cocaine import scheme worth millions.

His life took a dramatic turn: by 2004, local police had begun investigating him for a significant marijuana operation in British Columbia. A raid in 2006 uncovered a large quantity of cannabis, yet insufficient evidence meant he was not charged then.

Fast forward to 2008, Wedding was apprehended in California after a deal with an undercover FBI agent. Prosecutors claim that his time in prison allowed him to strengthen connections and devise new drug trafficking strategies.

Following a reduced sentence, he moved to Montreal and allegedly became close to Philippos Collaros, with ties to the Sinaloa cartel. This connection raised eyebrows, as it’s unusual for non-Mexicans to ascend such ranks in major drug operations. A former ambassador noted that encountering someone like Wedding at this level was unexpected.

It was revealed that Wedding oversaw a trafficking operation moving cocaine from South America to Canada. Yet, before police could apprehend him at his Montreal condo, he vanished, presumably tipped off about the investigation.

Over the next decade, Wedding reportedly built a cocaine smuggling business comparable to the notorious cartels, generating over $1 billion annually.

His reputation for intimidation and violence grew, particularly following the murder of Collaros in a Montreal restaurant shortly after his release from prison.

Last year, the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police commenced a sting operation named “Operation Giant Slalom,” aimed at Wedding. Subsequently, a fellow inmate provided authorities with crucial information about him. Wedding is now facing additional charges linked to his past actions, including the death of the inmate who had turned informant.

In March 2025, he was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list, following an indictment related to that murder. Reports emerged recently claiming Wedding turned himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, though his lawyer disputes this narrative.

Federal authorities have since arrested 36 individuals associated with Wedding’s drug operation, seizing significant quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and millions in illicit assets.

His former teammate reflected on Wedding’s tragic path, stating, “It’s disheartening. He was the last person who should have gone down this route.”