Canada: 24-01-2026] The dramatic ear of Ryan Wedding, the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged international drug kingpin, reached to a major turning point this week. After years on the run and a spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, Wedding is now in U.S. custody following a high-profile capture in Mexico.
His transition from elite athlete to modern-day El Chapo has shocked the sports and criminal justice worlds. Here is everything you need to know about the arrest of Ryan Wedding and the billion-dollar empire that he allegedly built by himself.
The Capture: Handcuffs and a Flight to Justice
Ryan Wedding’s time as a fugitive ended abruptly when he was apprehended in Mexico. According to federal authorities and reports given to News channels, Wedding had been hiding under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel.
Video footage released by Fox News showed the 44-year-old being escorted off a plane in handcuffs by FBI agents upon his arrival in the United States. FBI Director Kash Patel, who personally monitored the operation, described the capture as a major victory in the crackdown on organized crime and drug syndicate operatives. Wedding is expected to face a federal charges in California, including leading a criminal enterprise and murder.
A Billion-Dollar Empire of Crime:
The investigation into Wedding, aptly named Operation Giant Slalom revealed a criminal organization of huge scale. Authorities allege that Wedding’s network moved upwards of 60 metric tons of cocaine annually, with generating more than $1 billion in illegal business.
The operation reportedly utilized a sophisticated logistics chain, moving drugs from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California before reaching its distribution hubs in Canada. Prosecutors claim Wedding didn’t just move narcotics, he also protected his empire through extreme violence and crime. He is accused of orchestrating multiple murders, including the execution of a federal witness in Colombia and a tragic case of mistaken identity in Ontario that left an innocent couple dead.
The Secret Collection: $40 Million in MotoGP Bikes
While Wedding was evading the state law and orders, he was reportedly engaged with his obsession in high-speed bikes. As reported by Yahoo News, investigators discovered a massive hoard of luxury automobiles and assets linked to the former Olympian.
Among the seized items was an extraordinary collection of MotoGP racing motorcycles valued at approximately $40 million. The collection featured authentic, prototype race bikes previously ridden by legends like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Marc Márquez. These factory-spec machines, rarely seen outside of professional racing teams, were allegedly purchased using laundered drug money and stored in pristine condition across his various properties.
The Fall of an Olympian
Long before he was known by aliases like El Jefe and Public Enemy, Ryan Wedding was also a celebrated athlete. He represented Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, competing in the men’s parallel giant slalom.
His transition from the star of international sports to the top of the FBI’s most-wanted list is being called one of the most dramatic downfalls in the athletic history. With a $15 million reward previously on his head, Wedding’s arrest marks the end of a decade-long manhunt that was made in multiple continents.
What’s Next for Ryan Wedding?
Now back on U.S. soil, Wedding faces a legal battle that could result in life imprisonment. As federal prosecutors prepare their case, the seizure of his motorcycle collection and confiscating and dismantling his financial infrastructure signal a coordinated multiple authority effort to permanently crush his criminal organization.
For the families of the victims and the law enforcement agencies involved, the arrest of Ryan Wedding represents more than just a high-profile capture, it is the final chapter of a giant slalom that went to the end dramatically and tragically.
