The FBI, working with the RCMP and multiple international agencies, has increased the reward for information leading to the capture of Ryan Wedding to $15 million. Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned fugitive, is now one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives.
Officials also confirmed the arrests of seven Canadians across Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec as part of the ongoing crackdown on his network.
The US Department of State offers a reward of up to $15 million for info leading to the arrest &/or conviction of #FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Ryan James Wedding, wanted for allegedly running & participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation: https://t.co/YyLpIU4Nmi pic.twitter.com/3DdiopiL9W
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) November 19, 2025
At a joint news conference in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney-General Pam Bondi said authorities are coordinating closely with global partners. She announced a new indictment that includes expanded charges—such as murder and witness tampering—against additional alleged associates. The reward was raised from $10 million to $15 million due to the expanding nature of the case.
Ryan Wedding is one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives – allegedly responsible for an untold amount of Americans suffering through narcotics trafficking. This week, the @FBI and great partners took down a major part of his network – 10+ arrests – and we’re one step closer to… pic.twitter.com/Kz8RGZZRrs
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) November 19, 2025
“We arrested 12 people yesterday in an international takedown,” U.S. attorney for central California Bill Essayli said. Among those arrested was a Canadian lawyer believed to be representing Wedding.
Officials noted that more than 30 individuals have now been arrested or are being pursued in connection with the Wedding network.
Multiple unknown suspects are wanted in connection with their role in the Wedding Criminal Enterprise, led by #FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive, Ryan James Wedding. To eliminate threats and otherwise advance the interests of the Wedding Criminal Enterprise, Wedding allegedly issued… pic.twitter.com/mC12JC7sCX
— FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) November 19, 2025
Who Is Ryan Wedding?
Once known for representing Canada as a snowboarder at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ryan Wedding is now accused of leading a massive transnational drug organization. He is wanted for multiple charges, including:
- Three homicide-related federal charges
- Cocaine trafficking conspiracy
- “Leading a continuing criminal enterprise”
The FBI added him to its Top 10 Most Wanted List on March 6, calling the 44-year-old “a very dangerous man.”
U.S. Treasury Announces Sanctions on Wedding
The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Wedding and several of his alleged accomplices, seizing millions of dollars in assets. According to The Globe and Mail, law enforcement officials describe him as a violent enforcer who used murder to maintain loyalty and settle drug debts. This includes an alleged killing in Colombia in January 2025.
“Ryan Wedding is a modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar. He is a modern day iteration of El Chapo,” FBI Director Kash Patel said during a press briefing. “He will not evade justice,” he added.
Charges Against Ryan Wedding
Wedding is accused of running a drug trafficking enterprise that smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, before distributing it in Canada and across the United States.
He is also linked to multiple murders and an attempted murder tied to the drug network. The FBI states he operated under several aliases, including:
- “El Jefe”
- “Giant”
- “Public Enemy”
- “James Conrad King”
- “Jesse King”
“Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Where Is Ryan Wedding Now?
While authorities cannot confirm his exact location, investigators believe Ryan Wedding may be hiding in Mexico, where he is suspected of receiving protection from the Sinaloa cartel. Both Canada and the United States recently classified the cartel as a terrorist organization.
Law enforcement agencies have not ruled out the possibility that Wedding may be in:
- The United States
- Canada
- Honduras
- Guatemala
- Costa Rica
Wedding’s alleged second-in-command, Andrew Clark, was arrested in Mexico last year and was among 29 fugitives extradited to the United States in February 2025.
