The FBI reports that a Canadian individual linked to a major global criminal inquiry remains at large, allegedly receiving protection from the influential Sinaloa drug cartel and other criminal factions in Mexico. Ryan Wedding has eluded authorities since 2015, wanted for various drug-related offenses, conspiracy charges, and involvement in orchestrating murders. The U.S. State Department recently raised the reward for Wedding’s apprehension to $15 million US, up from $10 million US.
Ryan Wedding, known to Canadians from his participation in the 2002 Winter Olympics, transitioned from a competitive snowboarder to a fugitive with a criminal record. Following his Olympic appearance, Wedding’s career took a downturn, leading to a 2008 arrest in California for attempting to purchase cocaine. Subsequently, he faced charges related to a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation in Montreal in 2015 before fleeing to Mexico.
Law enforcement authorities suspect that the 44-year-old Wedding is currently residing in Mexico, where he allegedly oversees a substantial drug trafficking network, shielded by the Sinaloa cartel’s protection. While investigators primarily believe Wedding is in Mexico, they have not discounted the possibility that he might have traveled to other countries, including the U.S., Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, or Costa Rica.
The FBI has highlighted Wedding’s ability to evade capture with the assistance of the Sinaloa cartel and other Mexican entities. Protected by a network of individuals associated with the cartel’s operations, Wedding has evaded arrest through a combination of violent tactics, threats, and well-coordinated accomplices who alert him to impending law enforcement actions and help him relocate globally.
Despite past allegations of complicity by local Mexican officials, recent reports suggest that federal agents in Mexico are now actively pursuing Wedding. Described under various aliases such as “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” and “El Jefe,” Wedding is portrayed as a significant figure in the drug trade, with the U.S. Attorney General labeling him as Canada’s largest cocaine distributor and the head of a prolific and violent drug trafficking organization.
Wedding’s criminal activities extend beyond cocaine trafficking, encompassing fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine distribution. Comparisons have been drawn between Wedding and notorious drug lords like Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzman due to his alleged involvement in orchestrating multiple murders worldwide. The FBI considers Wedding one of the most dangerous fugitives globally and has placed him on its list of Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives since March 2025.
Recent arrests related to Wedding’s indictment include seven Canadians apprehended by Canadian law enforcement agencies. Among them is Deepak Paradkar, identified as Wedding’s lawyer who allegedly advised him to eliminate a witness in Colombia. The U.S. government has reiterated its commitment to apprehending Wedding, emphasizing that no individual, regardless of their background, is exempt from the law.