Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, faces severe drug trafficking charges after authorities accused him of running a violent cocaine smuggling operation.
During a news conference on October 17, the FBI revealed a 52-page indictment implicating the 43-year-old Canadian athlete in a major drug smuggling ring. Wedding, known by the aliases El Jefe, Giant, and Public Enemy, allegedly played a key role in transporting large quantities of cocaine—up to 60 tons annually—from Colombia to Canada and the United States.
The investigation uncovered that Wedding, along with co-defendant Andrew Clark, used long-haul trucks to ship the illicit drugs. They were allegedly connected to Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa Cartel, and authorities believe Wedding resumed his drug trafficking activities after serving a 2010 prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
U.S. prosecutors also revealed that Wedding’s operation extended beyond drug trafficking. He and his co-conspirators are accused of using threats and violence to enforce their criminal enterprise. One of the victims, music executive Nahim Jorge Bonilla, who allegedly received 12 kilograms of cocaine from Wedding and Clark, was reportedly threatened with the murder of his mother if he did not repay his debt.
In addition to the arrest of Bonilla, who owned a luxury mansion near Miami, authorities seized substantial assets, including cash, weapons, and over $3 million in cryptocurrency. Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, is also facing charges in Canada for separate drug-related offenses.
The drug smuggling ring was connected to the brutal murders of two Indian family members in Ontario, Canada, in November 2023, who were killed in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment.
While Wedding remains at large, the FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture and extradition. His co-defendant, Andrew Clark, was arrested in Mexico on October 8.
This case is a stark reminder of the complex and violent world of international drug trafficking. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities calling for public assistance in locating Wedding and other fugitive members of the ring.
