Ryan Wedding, a 44-year-old Canadian and former Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested. Authorities in the U.S. and Canada had long been looking for him, almost a decade. On Wednesday, Wedding turned himself in at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City. The 62-year-old faces a slew of serious charges, including drug trafficking and conspiracy to obliterate. His arrest is the culmination of a decade long inquiry into a murderous drug-trafficking enterprise that he reportedly led.
Since jumping the queue into Mexico in 2017, Wedding—who uses nicknames like “Public Enemy,” “El Jefe,” and “Giant”—has beat law enforcement at every turn. His daring escape remains a mystery to law enforcement. In March 2025, federal authorities succeeded in getting him added to the FBI’s Most Wanted List. They announced a mind-boggling $15 million reward for his capture. Operation Giant Slalom served as an important collaboration between the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Their goal and mission was to eradicate Wedding’s criminal drug trafficking organization.
U.S. authorities claim that Wedding’s syndicate smuggled almost 60 metric tons of cocaine into Los Angeles annually. To get the drugs from Mexico, they counted on a network of semitrucks. This massive joint operation highlights just how enormous his enterprise had become. It serves as a sobering reminder of the violent underbelly of the drug trade he participated in.
While on the run, Wedding allegedly received protection from the notorious Sinaloa cartel. This cartel has a long history of involvement in drug trafficking throughout North America. His very surrender begs the question, what is his motive and why negotiate his legal penalties.
Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, an expert on organized crime, suggested that Wedding’s decision to hand himself in could be an attempt to negotiate better terms for his impending legal battles.
“If it’s true that he handed himself in, this may be an attempt to negotiate better terms,” – Cecilia Farfán-Méndez
In the wake of his capture, law enforcement trumpeted the success of Operation Giant Slalom. Kash Patel, a spokesperson for the operation, said it is especially important, considering the nature of Wedding’s actions, to pursue justice.
“He thought he could evade justice … here we are today, bringing him to justice,” – Kash Patel
Farfán-Méndez emphasized the high-profile character of Wedding’s case. This, he argued, quickly put Wedding in law enforcement’s crosshairs, as his profile as a wholesale kingpin and the large reward for his apprehension made him a top target.
“There’s been a high-level characterisation of Wedding as a major kingpin. There was a $15m reward for him. At least from a media standpoint, he was a big fish,” – Farfán-Méndez
This high-profile case has attracted widespread attention due to Wedding’s background as an Olympic athlete. It highlights the continued influence and devastation caused by drug trafficking and organized crime that extends across North America. The underbelly of the illicit drug trade remains implacable as law enforcement agencies combat a wave of violent complex criminal enterprises.
After his arrest, Ryan Wedding was flown from Mexico to California where he remains in custody. He now faces a court hearing scheduled for Monday. He is charged with trafficking narcotics across state lines, conspiracy to commit murder, witness tampering, and money laundering.
U.S. and Canadian authorities joined forces to prosecute this case. Their partnership underscores the difficulty of combating organized crime that knows no borders.
“We told you in November we would find Mr. Wedding. Today, that day has arrived,” – Akil Davis