{"id":2512373,"date":"2025-11-19T13:18:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T18:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-offers-reward-for-alleged-drug-smuggler-ryan-james-wedding\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T13:23:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T18:23:36","slug":"doj-offers-reward-for-alleged-drug-smuggler-ryan-james-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-offers-reward-for-alleged-drug-smuggler-ryan-james-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ offers reward for alleged drug smuggler Ryan James Wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-offers-reward-for-alleged-drug-smuggler-ryan-james-wedding%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2512373&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S. government, along with Canadian authorities, has announced a $15 million reward for facts leading to the arrest of Ryan James Wedding, a former canadian olympic snowboarder accused of leading a major transnational drug trafficking organization. Wedding is believed to be involved with the Sinaloa Cartel and is suspected of smuggling approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually from Mexico into the U.S. and Canada, worth about $1 billion.He is currently on the FBI&#8217;s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is reportedly hiding in Mexico. Authorities have also indicted 36 others connected to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/43-college-students-vanished-7-years-ago-in-mexico-we-finally-know-what-happened\/\" title=\"43 College Students Vanished 7 Years Ago In Mexico. We Finally Know What Happened.\">drug-running operation<\/a>.Wedding is accused of orchestrating a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-killing-u-s-energy-production-the-biden-administration-is-negotiating-with-venezuelan-terrorists-for-oil\/\" title=\"After Killing U.S. Energy Production, The Biden Administration Is Negotiating With Venezuelan Terrorists For Oil\">narco-trafficking<\/a> and narco-terrorism network, and he is linked to violent crimes, including the alleged ordering of a U.S. federal witness&#8217;s murder in Colombia. The increased reward aims to encourage the public to assist in locating and capturing him.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">US offering $15 million reward for Canadian Olympic athlete allegedly running major drug network<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2404499\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\">Trump administration<\/a> announced a $15 million reward for information that leads to the arrest of former Canadian <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/olympics\">Olympic<\/a> athlete Ryan James Wedding, the alleged leader of a cross-border <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/drug-cartels\">drug trafficking<\/a> enterprise.<\/p>\n<p>Officials from the Justice, State, and Treasury departments, as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said Wednesday that Wedding remains at large as both the American and Canadian governments continue a search for him, particularly in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mexico\/\">Mexico<\/a>, where authorities believe he may be hiding out due to his alleged work with the Sinaloa Cartel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3891945\/byron-york-democrats-havent-found-holy-grail-evidence-trump-epstein\/\">Byron York says Democrats haven&#8217;t found &lsquo;Holy Grail&rsquo; of evidence connecting Trump to Epstein<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3891868\/salena-zito-suggests-unfinished-butler-investigation-makes-people-wonder-the-worst\/\">Salena Zito suggests unfinished Butler investigation &lsquo;makes people wonder the worst&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3890483\/lies-smears-ai-deepfakes-dhs-tackles-fake-news-about-ice\/\">&#8216;Lies, smears and AI deepfakes&#8217;: DHS tackles fake news about ICE<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;This is a billion dollars a year of drugs that he is charged with being responsible for,&rdquo; Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> said about the former Olympian while at a press conference in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington<\/a>. &ldquo;He controls one of the most prolific and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sinaloa-cartel-leader-el-mayo-arrested-in-texas-according-to-doj-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... leader &#039;El Mayo&#039; ...ed in Texas, according to DOJ - Washington Examiner\">violent drug trafficking organizations<\/a> in this world. He is currently the largest distributor of cocaine in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/canada\/\">Canada<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">&#127482;&#127480; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/EEUU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#EEUU<\/a> | Un ex atleta ol&iacute;mpico ingres&oacute; a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >la lista de los 10 fugitivos<\/a> m&aacute;s buscados por el <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FBI<\/a>: la recompensa por su captura.<br \/>El canadiense Ryan James Wedding compiti&oacute; en snowboard durante los Juegos Ol&iacute;mpicos de Salt Lake City 2002 y ahora es intensamente buscado. <br \/>Las&hellip; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wGc91BieL2\">pic.twitter.com\/wGc91BieL2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; CadenaS&eacute;.com (@CadenaSeCom) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CadenaSeCom\/status\/1898070032350929240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\">Kash Patel<\/a> announced an additional indictment of others who were arrested in connection with Wedding&rsquo;s alleged drug-running scheme, bringing the total to 36 indictments.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Ryan Wedding is a modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar, is a modern day iteration of El Chapo Guzman,&rdquo; Patel said Wednesday. &ldquo;This <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\">Justice Department<\/a> and this FBI will work with our Canadian counterparts and the government officials across the world to bring him to justice. He is responsible for engineering a narco trafficking and narco terrorism program that we have not seen in a long time.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Wedding is responsible for importing $1 billion worth of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cocaine\/\">cocaine<\/a> from Mexico into the United States and Canada annually, according to Bondi.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The US Department of State offers a reward of up to $15 million for info leading to the arrest &amp;\/or conviction of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FBI<\/a> Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Ryan James Wedding, wanted for allegedly running &amp; participating in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-places-former-olympian-on-most-wanted-list-10-million-reward-offered\/\" title=\"FBI Places Former Olympian on Most ... List -  Million ... Offered\">transnational drug trafficking operation<\/a>: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YyLpIU4Nmi\">https:\/\/t.co\/YyLpIU4Nmi<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3DdiopiL9W\">pic.twitter.com\/3DdiopiL9W<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FBIMostWanted\/status\/1991190327814684989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Wedding&rsquo;s alleged smuggling organization is believed to have imported 60 metric tons of cocaine per year through Los Angeles by semi-trucks, a figure equivalent to the weight of 40 standard cars, Bondi added.<\/p>\n<p>The former Olympian has been on the FBI&rsquo;s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, and DOJ officials said they hope that the decision to have the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-department\/\">State Department<\/a> raise the reward amount to $15 million from $10 million will incentivize the public to be on the lookout for Wedding.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3890483\/lies-smears-ai-deepfakes-dhs-tackles-fake-news-about-ice\/#google_vignette\">&lsquo;LIES, SMEARS, AND AI DEEPFAKES&rsquo;: DHS TACKLES FAKE NEWS ABOUT ICE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The latest indictment includes people who are believed to be involved with the murder of a witness, according to State Department official Chris Lamberg.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In January 2025, Wedding allegedly ordered the murder of a U.S. federal witness in Medellin, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colombia\/\">Colombia<\/a>,&rdquo; Lamberg said. &ldquo;In addition to our focus on taking down Wedding, we are offering rewards up to $2 million each for information leading to the unknown assassins responsible for that January 2025 murder.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US offers $15M reward for fugitive Canadian ex-Olympian drug lord<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2655,"featured_media":2512374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/bondi-tt.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[7076,67351,4226,67352],"class_list":["post-2512373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-doj","tag-drug-smuggler","tag-reward","tag-ryan-james-wedding"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/bondi-tt.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2655"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2512373"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2512377,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512373\/revisions\/2512377"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2512374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2512373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2512373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2512373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}