Ryan Wedding: From Olympic Glory to Drug Kingpin

The Stunning Fall of an Olympic Champion

Once celebrated as a Canadian Olympic snowboarder, Ryan Wedding now stands accused as a ruthless drug kingpin orchestrating a criminal enterprise that brought $1 billion worth of narcotics into the US annually. In a dramatic turn, federal prosecutors have added murder charges against Wedding, alleging he ordered the killing of a key witness scheduled to testify against him in a federal drug case.

A Multi-Billion Dollar Drug Empire

According to the FBI and DEA, Wedding's operation smuggled six metric tons of cocaine into Los Angeles annually via semitrucks from Mexico, creating one of the largest drug trafficking corridors in North America. FBI Director Kash Patel compared Wedding to notorious cartel leaders Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzman, calling him "a modern day iteration" of these infamous criminals.

The scale of the operation is staggering, moving billions of dollars in illegal drugs across borders while allegedly eliminating anyone who threatened to expose the network. "Ryan Wedding has orchestrated murders against his rivals, against cooperating witnesses, against anybody that crosses his path," stated Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI's Los Angeles office.

The Witness Murder Allegation

The most recent charges stem from the cold-blooded murder of a federal witness in Colombia earlier this year. Prosecutors allege Wedding personally ordered the killing to silence testimony against him. "The murder of a witness in Colombia earlier this year was a cruel, cold-blooded act that could not and did not go unanswered," declared First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.

This accusation elevates Wedding's case beyond drug trafficking into the realm of international murder conspiracy, prompting the FBI to place him on their prestigious 10 Most Wanted list alongside America's most dangerous fugitives.

Massive Manhunt and Record Reward

In response, US authorities have launched "Operation Giant Slalom" - a coordinated international crackdown that resulted in the arrest of 11 alleged associates across Canada, Colombia, and the United States. Those apprehended include attorneys, logistics coordinators, and money launderers who allegedly facilitated Wedding's operations.

To expedite Wedding's capture, the US government has issued a record-setting $15 million reward - one of the largest bounties in FBI history. This unprecedented sum reflects the gravity of the charges and the danger Wedding poses to public safety.

The Olympic Paradox

Born in Canada and a member of the 2002 Winter Olympic team, Wedding's athletic achievements now stand in stark contrast to his alleged criminal activities. His transformation from celebrated athlete to accused drug lord has shocked the sports world and law enforcement alike, highlighting the complex intersection of athletic fame and organized crime.

"If convicted, you will never see the outside of a prison ever again," warned Essayli in a direct message to the fugitive. As international manhunts intensify and legal proceedings move forward against his co-conspirators, the world watches to see if this Olympic champion can evade justice or face the consequences of his alleged actions.