The United States government has dramatically increased its reward for information leading to the arrest of Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder now accused of being a top-tier international drug trafficker. The bounty now stands at $15 million USD, a significant jump from the previous $10 million, underscoring the severity of the allegations.
From Olympic Glory to Alleged Crime Lord
Ryan Wedding's story is a stark fall from grace. The Thunder Bay native once represented Canada on the world stage, competing in the Giant Slalom at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Today, U.S. authorities describe him as the leader of a transnational criminal enterprise.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI, Wedding is accused of leading a group engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder. His alleged criminal journey began after his Olympic career, transitioning from a small-time marijuana dealer in Whistler, B.C., to a convicted cocaine trafficker by 2010. Officials claim that after his release from jail, he forged a powerful alliance with the notorious Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
The Staggering Scale of the Alleged Operation
The scope of the drug distribution network allegedly overseen by Wedding is immense. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Wedding is now the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada.
She alleged that his organization collaborates closely with the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated foreign terrorist organization, to flood American and Canadian communities with cocaine sourced from Colombia. The network is accused of importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine per year into Los Angeles via semi-trucks from Mexico. To put that into perspective, 60 metric tons is roughly equivalent to the weight of 40 standard cars.
Dramatic Arrests and a Hollywood Twist
The investigation, dubbed Operation Giant Slamber after Wedding's Olympic event, has already seen significant action. The first wave of arrests in October 2024 included nine Canadians. This week, another 10 arrests were made, seven of whom are also Canadian.
Adding a dramatic, cinematic twist to the case, Wedding's own lawyer, Deepak Paradkar of Thornhill, Ontario, was arrested and now faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in addition to drug charges. U.S. attorney Bill Essayli alleged that Paradkar advised his client to kill a witness to get the case dismissed.
This case forces a uncomfortable reckoning with Canada's role in the international drug trade. While Canadians often celebrate historical bootlegging tales, the modern reality of hard drug trafficking is more sobering. The rise of a figure like Ryan Wedding, allegedly operating at such a high level with a major cartel, makes it increasingly difficult to deny the significant footprint of Canadian organized crime in the global narcotics market.
