Ex-Olympian Snowboarder Now Drug Kingpin Charged with Murder

Published: 20 November 2025 Thursday . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

In a case that has captured international attention, former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, now allegedly at the helm of a powerful drug cartel, has been charged with orchestrating the murder of a federal witness. U.S. officials have described the Canadian national as a “modern-day Pablo Escobar,” highlighting the unprecedented scale and brutality of his criminal operations.

The Department of Justice revealed that Wedding, 44, allegedly engineered the killing by posting images of the witness and his wife on a fabricated news website, designed to facilitate their location. The reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest has now been increased from $10 million (£7.6 million) to $15 million, reflecting the urgency with which authorities are pursuing him.

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the severity of Wedding’s activities, describing him as “responsible for engineering a narco trafficking and narco terrorism programme that we have not seen in a long time.” The U.S. authorities believe he is currently hiding in Mexico, protected by members of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wedding is directly linked to the murder of the federal witness in a case against him. In October 2024, Wedding allegedly paid C$10,000 ($7,000; £5,400) to have photos of the witness and his spouse published on a Canada-based website, The Dirty Newz, as part of a plot to identify and target the individual. The website has since been taken offline by the FBI. Tragically, the witness was shot and killed in a restaurant in Medellin, Colombia, in January 2025.

Bondi outlined the full scope of the charges facing Wedding, which include witness tampering and intimidation, murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking. U.S. authorities are still searching for unknown suspects directly involved in the murder, including the individual who carried out the shooting and any accomplices who aided in the escape.

At a joint press conference, officials from the U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies revealed a series of additional developments, including a newly unsealed indictment and the arrests of ten individuals allegedly connected to Wedding’s criminal enterprise. The authorities described Wedding’s organization as the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada, operating across North America and other international territories, with estimated revenues exceeding $1 billion annually.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Michael Duheme confirmed that seven Canadians linked to the cartel were arrested in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta. These individuals face extradition to the United States to answer charges including conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking. Among those arrested is Deepak Balwant Paradkar, a Canadian lawyer accused of providing “a range of illegal services to Wedding and his drug trafficking organization beyond the scope of a normal attorney-client relationship,” according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Paradkar is alleged to have been compensated with luxury watches and additional fees for these services.

The newly unsealed indictment further asserts that Paradkar advised Wedding and a close accomplice to murder the federal witness to prevent his extradition from Mexico. Gursewak Singh Bal, 31, alleged co-founder of The Dirty Newz, was also among those arrested, illustrating the lengths to which the organization went to manipulate public information for criminal gain. Authorities continue to seek an eighth suspect in Canada connected to the operation.

Other individuals apprehended this week include Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, 47, a Colombian national allegedly running a high-end prostitution ring in Mexico and assisting the cartel in tracking the federal witness. Atna Ohna, 40, from Quebec, was accused of hiring a hitman for Wedding’s cartel and later receiving a “bejewelled necklace” in recognition of his role in the witness’s death.

Ryan Wedding’s path from celebrated athlete to alleged international drug kingpin is both shocking and unprecedented. The Canadian competed in Giant Slalom snowboarding during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, earning acclaim for his athletic achievements. However, following his release from a U.S. federal prison in 2011, where he served time for cocaine distribution, Wedding is alleged to have embarked on a decade-long trajectory of organized criminal activity.

The FBI alleges that Wedding has ordered dozens of murders across multiple continents, targeting individuals in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. His extensive network reportedly controls the supply of cocaine to Canada and is implicated in a series of violent crimes, including assassination attempts, kidnappings, and money laundering operations.

Wedding’s aliases, including “El Jefe,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King,” and “Jesse King,” are said to have been used to conceal his identity while operating internationally. Authorities describe him as highly intelligent, methodical, and ruthless in his operations, drawing comparisons to notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar for both his influence and the scope of his cartel’s operations.

The arrest of Wedding’s associates and the ongoing investigation highlight the challenges law enforcement faces in dismantling sophisticated, cross-border criminal networks. U.S. and Canadian authorities emphasized the collaborative effort required to track down all individuals involved and prevent further acts of violence connected to the cartel.

FBI Director Patel warned that despite the arrests, Wedding remains a high-risk fugitive and anyone attempting to assist or shield him from law enforcement would face serious legal consequences. He reiterated the reward for information, urging the public to come forward with any credible leads that could lead to Wedding’s capture.

The unfolding case has attracted global media attention not only because of Wedding’s Olympic background but also due to the violent and audacious tactics allegedly employed by his organization. Legal experts note that the combination of international drug trafficking, witness murder, and money laundering underscores the transnational nature of modern organized crime and the difficulties in prosecuting such networks effectively.

Attorney General Bondi emphasized that the case represents “one of the most significant law enforcement efforts in recent years against an individual and organization engaged in widespread violence and illegal activity across multiple borders.” The investigation also illustrates the growing use of digital platforms and fake news websites by criminal organizations to intimidate and manipulate targets, a tactic that authorities are now scrutinizing closely.

The case also raises questions about the rehabilitation and monitoring of individuals with prior criminal convictions. Wedding’s alleged transformation from Olympic athlete to fugitive drug lord highlights the dangers posed by sophisticated criminal enterprises and the global consequences of organized crime networks operating with impunity.

Authorities continue to monitor the Sinaloa cartel’s involvement, suspecting that Wedding receives protection and logistical support from the organization while in Mexico. Meanwhile, Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies are coordinating efforts to apprehend the fugitive and prevent additional crimes connected to his operations.

As the investigation progresses, officials stress that public safety remains a top priority. They have urged anyone with information about Wedding’s whereabouts or activities to report it immediately to the FBI or local authorities. The international collaboration between law enforcement agencies underscores the seriousness of the threat posed by Wedding and the lengths authorities are willing to go to dismantle his criminal network.

Ryan Wedding’s story serves as a stark reminder that criminal enterprises can evolve in unexpected ways, infiltrating borders and leveraging technology to commit and conceal serious offenses. With the investigation ongoing and additional arrests anticipated, law enforcement officials remain committed to bringing Wedding and his associates to justice, demonstrating the reach and determination of modern policing in the face of global organized crime.

The case continues to develop, and authorities have pledged to provide updates as new evidence emerges, signaling that the investigation into Wedding’s alleged empire is far from over.