The Federal Bureau of Investigation has significantly escalated its pursuit of former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, releasing a new photograph of the fugitive and increasing the reward for information leading to his arrest to an astounding $15 million. Wedding, once a representative for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics, now sits on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, accused of heading a violent, multi-billion dollar transnational drug trafficking empire.
From Olympic Slopes to America's Most Wanted
Ryan James Wedding, 44, competed in the parallel giant slalom event at the Salt Lake City Games, a moment of national pride for Canada. However, his life allegedly took a dramatic turn after his athletic career, leading him down a path that authorities describe as one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking operations in the world. Wedding was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2025.
The FBI's latest move, announced on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, includes the public release of a new photo of Wedding, believed to be a selfie taken in Mexico during the summer of 2025. The image, which shows Wedding shirtless in bed with a prominent lion tattoo on his chest, was released to aid the public in recognizing and reporting any sightings of the alleged drug lord.
Allegations of a Violent Narcotics Empire
U.S. authorities allege that Wedding is at the helm of a vast criminal enterprise responsible for routinely shipping hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, and into Canada and other U.S. locations. This operation, described by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as generating more than $1 billion annually and trafficking an estimated 60 metric tons of cocaine each year, has drawn comparisons to the infamous operations of drug lords like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Pablo Escobar by FBI Director Kash Patel.
Beyond drug trafficking, Wedding faces grave accusations of orchestrating multiple murders in furtherance of his criminal activities. These include the alleged killing of a federal witness, Jonathan Acebedo Garcia, who was shot dead in a Medellín, Colombia, restaurant on January 31, 2025, just days before he was slated to testify against Wedding. Furthermore, Wedding and his alleged associate, Andrew Clark, are accused of ordering the murders of a married couple, Jagtar Sidhu and Harbhajan Sidhu, in Ontario in November 2023, reportedly in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment. Another individual, Mohammed Zafar, was also allegedly killed in May 2024 over a drug debt.
The Hunt for "El Jefe"
Wedding is known to use several aliases, including "El Jefe," "Giant," "Public Enemy," "James Conrad King," and "Jesse King." Authorities believe he is currently hiding in Mexico, possibly under the protection of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel. The FBI describes Wedding as 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 240 pounds, noting that he may attempt to change his appearance, including hair color. He is considered dangerous and should not be approached by the public.
The increased reward of $15 million, up from an initial $10 million offered when he was first added to the most wanted list, underscores the seriousness of the charges and the determination of law enforcement to bring him to justice. The U.S. Department of State's Narcotics Rewards Program is offering this substantial sum for information leading to his arrest or conviction, with additional incentives for information regarding the assassins involved in the witness's murder.
Wedding's criminal past includes a 2010 conviction for drug trafficking after attempting to purchase cocaine from an undercover U.S. government agent, for which he served a four-year prison sentence. Since his release, he allegedly built the extensive criminal network he is now accused of leading.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the DEA, and local police departments, are collaborating on "Operation Giant Slalom" to track down Wedding and dismantle his organization. The release of this new photo and the heightened reward serve as a clear message from authorities: the hunt for Ryan Wedding is intensifying, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward to help capture one of America's most wanted fugitives.
