Former Olympian-Turned-Drug Kingpin Lands on FBI’s Most Wanted List [WATCH]

A former Olympic snowboarder has traded the slopes for the shadows of the criminal underworld, earning himself a spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

As The New York Post reported, Ryan “El Jefe” Wedding, once a competitor for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics, is now accused of running a vast drug empire that trafficked massive amounts of cocaine from Colombia into North America.

🚨 The #FBI has named Ryan James Wedding to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. Wedding is wanted for his alleged involvement in a large-scale transnational drug trafficking operation and orchestrating multiple murders linked to his criminal enterprise: https://t.co/VD2Z9BLu5F pic.twitter.com/jV1796iMGu

— FBI (@FBI) March 6, 2025

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Authorities say he didn’t just stop at drugs—he allegedly ordered multiple murders to protect his illicit operation.

The Department of Justice revealed that Wedding, 43, is wanted for overseeing a transnational drug smuggling ring that funneled hundreds of pounds of cocaine through California and Mexico before reaching Canada.

His indictment, issued by the Central District of California, paints a picture of a ruthless criminal operation where those who crossed him met deadly consequences.

The U.S. State Department isn’t taking Wedding’s crimes lightly, offering a staggering $10 million reward for any information leading to his capture.

FBI officials made it clear that this isn’t just about drugs—it’s about a dangerous criminal who allegedly ordered executions to maintain control of his empire.

“Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of US cities and in his native Canada,” said Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

“The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger.”

Wedding isn’t operating alone. His alleged accomplice, Andrew Clark, 34, was arrested in Mexico last October and has since been extradited to the United States.

Authorities say the two worked together, storing drugs in a Los Angeles stash house before using semi-trucks to move the shipments into Canada.

Their cartel-style violence escalated in November 2023 when authorities say Wedding and Clark ordered the execution of two family members in Ontario, Canada, over a stolen drug shipment.

Investigators also believe Wedding was behind a 2018 murder linked to a drug debt.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are working closely with U.S. authorities, calling Wedding’s capture “imperative” to bringing justice to the victims and dismantling his criminal network.

Wedding’s past as an athlete is a stark contrast to the life he now leads. He competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, finishing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom.

But instead of retiring as a celebrated athlete, he allegedly became a major player in the international drug trade.

Authorities warn that Wedding is highly dangerous, with a history of violence and a vast network of criminal associates. He has been known to use aliases including “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King,” and “Jesse King.”

The FBI has charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances, conspiracy to export cocaine, running a continuing criminal enterprise, multiple counts of murder, and attempted murder.

With a $10 million bounty on his head, it’s only a matter of time before “El Jefe” runs out of places to hide.