Former Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding Surrenders in Mexico After Years on the Run
A dramatic decade-long international manhunt for former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding concluded this week when the 44-year-old turned himself in to authorities at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City. The FBI confirmed that Wedding, who had been on their Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list with a $15-million bounty for his capture, voluntarily surrendered on Friday, January 22, 2026.
From Athletic Glory to Alleged Criminal Empire
Once celebrated for representing Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Wedding's life took a dark turn in the years following his athletic career. According to law enforcement agencies, he transformed from Olympic competitor to alleged transnational drug kingpin, facing charges that include murder, witness intimidation, money laundering, and leading a massive cocaine trafficking organization.
The timeline of Wedding's alleged criminal activities reveals a startling transformation:
- 2002: Wedding competed for Canada in the parallel giant slalom snowboarding event at the Salt Lake City Winter Games, though he did not medal. His snowboarding career ended shortly thereafter.
- 2006: Authorities discovered Wedding had established a cannabis production operation in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Police raids uncovered an estimated $10 million worth of live plants and dried cannabis, though Wedding avoided capture at the time.
- 2010: Wedding expanded into cocaine trafficking, partnering with Iranian and Russian smugglers. He was convicted for attempting to purchase cocaine from a U.S. government agent and served four years in prison.
- 2014: The U.S. Department of Justice charged Wedding as the alleged mastermind behind a transnational organized crime group involved in cocaine trafficking and multiple murders, including innocent civilians.
- 2015: After facing additional charges in Canada for conspiracy to import and traffic cocaine, Wedding fled to Mexico where he reportedly became a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel, earning the nickname "El Hefe."
- 2025: Wedding was added to the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives List in March with a $15-million reward for information leading to his capture. He faced new charges including witness intimidation and murder.
International Investigation and Dramatic Surrender
The investigation into Wedding's alleged criminal activities involved multiple international agencies working together under Operation Giant Slalom. Canadian authorities, including the RCMP, collaborated with U.S. agencies including the FBI and Department of Justice to track Wedding's movements across North America.
According to law enforcement sources, Wedding's alleged criminal enterprise spanned multiple countries and involved sophisticated smuggling operations. The charges against him include three counts of murder, one attempted murder, drug trafficking, leading a criminal organization, and money laundering.
"This case represents one of the most dramatic falls from grace in Canadian sports history," noted one law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. "From representing your country at the highest level of international competition to allegedly leading a violent transnational drug trafficking organization is a shocking transformation."
What Comes Next for the Former Olympian
With Wedding now in custody, legal proceedings are expected to move forward on multiple fronts. He faces extradition to the United States where he will answer to the serious charges filed against him. The case has drawn international attention not only for the dramatic nature of Wedding's alleged crimes but also for the stark contrast between his Olympic past and his current legal situation.
The surrender marks the end of a lengthy pursuit that saw Wedding evade capture across multiple countries while allegedly building his criminal empire. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that his apprehension represents a significant victory in international efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking networks operating across North American borders.
