U.S. authorities are set to brief the public on a major transnational crime ring that has entangled Olympian-turned-fugitive Ryan Wedding, a Canadian whose criminal network has operated extensively in both Canada and the United States. The news follows years of investigation linking Wedding and his associates to large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and a series of violent crimes.
Former Olympian at the Center of Major Crime Network
Ryan Wedding, who once represented Canada as a snowboarder in the 2002 Winter Olympics, is now one of the FBI’s most-wanted fugitives. According to investigators, Wedding rose through the ranks of organized crime, forging alliances in Mexican drug cartels and Iranian-linked money laundering networks while still in prison. His criminal enterprise expanded over the past decade, with Canadian and U.S. law enforcement attributing multiple murders, kidnapping plots, and cartel-backed trafficking operations to the network.
High-Profile Extradition and Money Laundering Probes
Authorities report that Wedding’s ex-wife has also been named in multiple money laundering and kidnapping probes, though she has not been charged with a crime. Police and courts have traced millions of dollars in illicit revenue to real estate and cannabis operations, exposing a sophisticated financial web spanning North America.
International Manhunt and Rewards
As the criminal ring became synonymous with violence and conspiracy, several of Wedding’s associates were gunned down or charged during joint RCMP–FBI stings. U.S. agencies are now offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture, reflecting the purported scale and danger of his network.
Moving Forward
Efforts to dismantle the Wedding organization continue, with law enforcement in both countries committed to tracking down the fugitive and addressing the complex criminal landscape his group helped create. The OHNA briefing aims to keep the public informed and highlight the collaborative strategies used to confront cross-border organized crime.