Ex-Olympian and Notorious Drug Lord Ryan Wedding Captured in Mexico

Mon Jan 26 2026 07:54:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian turned alleged drug kingpin, has been arrested after evading authorities for years. His apprehension raises questions about international cooperation in combating organized crime.

Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug kingpin, was arrested in Mexico after being on the run for several years. Wanted for a massive cocaine trafficking operation and murders, he is set for extradition to the U.S. Wedding’s capture highlights the need for international cooperation in tackling transnational crime, as officials describe him as a modern-day Pablo Escobar.

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding has been arrested in Mexico and will be extradited to the US after years on the run, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Wedding, 44, had been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, with accusations of running a transnational drug trafficking operation responsible for moving tonnes of cocaine across borders.

Additionally, Wedding was wanted on murder charges. Authorities suspected he had been living in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa drug cartel. During a news briefing, the head of Canada’s federal police praised the law enforcement operation that led to his arrest.

“No single agency or nation can combat transnational organized crime alone," said Mike Duheme, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), highlighting the collaborative effort involved. He emphasized that communities are now safer due to Wedding's capture, which occurred after he reportedly killed a federal witness in a case against him and ordered the murder of several others.

In his alleged drug trafficking activities, authorities say Wedding's organization brought in about 60 metric tonnes of cocaine annually, equating to an estimated $1 billion in revenue. Prior to his fugitive status, he had been imprisoned on drug charges, with allegations that he resumed his criminal enterprise post-release in 2011.

During his time on the run, Wedding reportedly underwent plastic surgery and adopted multiple aliases. He was living an affluent lifestyle in Mexico, with recent seizures by authorities revealing high-value assets, including luxury motorcycles and cash.

The FBI had previously placed a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest. However, details regarding how Wedding was captured remain undisclosed, except that he was apprehended in Mexico City. In fact, reports suggest that he may have voluntarily surrendered at the US embassy.

This arrest arrives in tandem with the apprehension of another man, Alejandro Castillo, also on the FBI's wanted list, demonstrating the ongoing collaboration between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement in tackling organized crime.