Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, has been charged with running a massive drug trafficking ring that spanned across the Americas and resulted in the deaths of four people, The Associated Press reports.
The FBI has issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and extradition. The 43-year-old, currently considered a fugitive, is facing charges in the United States for running a criminal enterprise, murder, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and other related crimes.
According to US prosecutors, Wedding’s organization transported substantial quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and California to Canada and other locations in the United States, utilizing long-haul semi-trucks. The ring is believed to have moved approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually, with four individuals, including Wedding, remaining at large.
“He chose to become a major drug trafficker and he chose to become a killer,” stated US Attorney Martin Estrada. “This is not just about drugs, this is about violence and death.”
A dozen individuals were apprehended across various locations including Florida, Michigan, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico in connection with the case. The arrests are a result of a joint investigation involving the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and numerous other agencies.
Authorities allege that Wedding’s group murdered two members of a family in Canada, mistaking them for individuals involved in a stolen drug shipment. They are also responsible for the deaths of two other individuals. During the investigation, authorities seized cocaine, firearms, ammunition, cash, and over $3 million in cryptocurrency.
Wedding, who competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, has a prior conviction in the United States for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, dating back to 2010. Estrada revealed that authorities believe Wedding resumed his drug trafficking activities after his release and has been protected by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
Wedding also faces separate drug trafficking charges in Canada, stemming back to 2015.
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