{"id":2549202,"date":"2026-01-23T11:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T16:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/canadian-snowboarder-and-alleged-drug-lord-captured-by-fbi-after-manhunt\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T11:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T16:22:33","slug":"canadian-snowboarder-and-alleged-drug-lord-captured-by-fbi-after-manhunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/canadian-snowboarder-and-alleged-drug-lord-captured-by-fbi-after-manhunt\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian snowboarder and alleged drug lord captured by FBI after manhunt"},"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\">22<\/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%2Fcanadian-snowboarder-and-alleged-drug-lord-captured-by-fbi-after-manhunt%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=2549202&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>Ryan Wedding, a 44-year-old former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who competed at the 2002 Salt lake City Games, has been arrested in Mexico after a yearlong international manhunt. Authorities allege he became a violent transnational cocaine trafficker who worked with Mexican cartels to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-photo-cartel-attacks-in-mexican-border-state-follow-arrest-of-cell-leader\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE PHOTO: Cartel Attacks in Mexican Border State Follow Arrest of Cell Leader\">move large quantities<\/a> of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico into southern California and Canada. Wedding, who was placed on the FBI&#8217;s Ten Most Wanted list and faced a reward of up to $15 million, was charged in 2024 under several aliases (including &#8220;El Jefe&#8221; and &#8220;Public Enemy&#8221;) and is accused of orchestrating multiple killings tied to his drug operation, including an alleged plot to murder a witness in Colombia to avoid extradition. U.S. prosecutors and the FBI planned a press conference in Ontario, California, with FBI Director Kash Patel expected to announce the capture and outline the charges and international cooperation that led to it.The case remains developing as officials provide further details.  <\/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\">Olympic snowboarder-turned-alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding captured by FBI after yearlong manhunt<\/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_2470910\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Disgraced former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/olympics\/\">Olympic<\/a> snowboarder and alleged cocaine kingpin <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3892190\/ryan-wedding-olympic-snowboarder-drug-lord-fbi-sanctioned-us\/\">Ryan Wedding<\/a>, who was among the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\">FBI<\/a>&rsquo;s 10 most wanted fugitives, has been arrested in Mexico following a yearlong international manhunt.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan Wedding, 44, competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City before authorities say he pivoted from elite sports to running a violent <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >transnational drug trafficking operation<\/a>. FBI Director Kash Patel was slated to make the announcement Friday morning in Ontario, California, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ryan-wedding-olympic-snowboarder-drug-ring-1ba939875022738f89e0822cb32f0176\">according<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-trumps-impeachment-defense-team-collapses-ahead-of-senate-trial-top-lawyers-out\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Trump\u2019s Impeachment Defense Team Collapses Ahead Of Senate Trial, Top Lawyers Out\">multiple news reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4431028\/former-iowa-superintendent-ian-roberts-arrested-by-ice-changes-plea-guilty\/\">Former Iowa superintendent arrested by ICE changes plea to guilty<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4430554\/key-takeaways-from-jack-smiths-house-judiciary-testimony\/\">Key takeaways from Jack Smith&rsquo;s House Judiciary testimony<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4429182\/doj-lays-evidence-predatory-incursion-venezuelan-gang-appeals-court-hearing\/\">DOJ lays out evidence of &#8216;predatory incursion&#8217; by Venezuelan gang in appeals court hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An image of former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who is a fugitive charged with allegedly running and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation, is displayed on a video monitor along with bricks of cocaine during a news conference at the FBI offices in Los Angeles on Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo\/Damian Dovarganes, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to <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 Wanted List -  Million Reward Offered\">distributing powder cocaine<\/a> on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada,&rdquo; the assistant director of the FBI&rsquo;s Los Angeles field office said in March, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/contact-us\/field-offices\/losangeles\/news\/former-olympian-added-to-fbis-list-of-ten-most-wanted-fugitives\">according<\/a> to a press release.<\/p>\n<p>Federal prosecutors <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/01\/localimages\/wedding.jpg\/view\">allege Wedding worked closely with Mexican cartels <\/a>to move massive quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and into Southern California and Canada. He is also accused of orchestrating multiple killings to protect and advance his drug enterprise, including murders tied directly to his trafficking operations.<\/p>\n<p>Wedding was charged in 2024 with trafficking cocaine under several aliases, including &ldquo;El Jefe,&rdquo; &ldquo;Public Enemy,&rdquo; and &ldquo;James Conrad Kin.&rdquo; Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in November that Wedding had also been indicted for allegedly arranging the murder of a witness in Colombia in an effort to avoid extradition to the United States, the <em>AP<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A photograph of Ryan Wedding, a Canadian drug smuggler, provided by the FBI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Authorities had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Wedding&rsquo;s arrest and conviction, underscoring the priority placed on his capture by U.S. law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI is expected to announce Wedding&rsquo;s arrest during a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, when officials are expected to outline the charges against him and the international coordination that led to his capture.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3892190\/ryan-wedding-olympic-snowboarder-drug-lord-fbi-sanctioned-us\/\">WHO IS RYAN WEDDING? OLYMPIC SNOWBOARDER ON FBI&rsquo;S TEN MOST WANTED LIST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The FBI did not respond to a request for comment ahead of the press conference.<\/p>\n<p><em>This is a developing story and will be updated<\/em>.<\/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>Ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding arrested after manhunt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2549203,"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\/11\/ryan-wedding-bondi-patel-collage.jpg?1763558295&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5175,3957,36244,50645,71765],"class_list":["post-2549202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-arrest","tag-canada","tag-drug-trafficking","tag-fbi-2","tag-snowboarding"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ryan-wedding-bondi-patel-collage.jpg?1763558295&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549202","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\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2549202"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2549210,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549202\/revisions\/2549210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2549203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2549202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2549202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2549202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}