The tale of Ryan Wedding reads like something straight out of a Hollywood thriller. Once a promising Canadian Olympic snowboarder, he now tops the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Authorities accuse him of running a massive drug trafficking empire and ordering brutal murders. With a $10 million reward on his head as of March 2025, Wedding’s journey from the snowy slopes to a life on the run captivates and shocks the world. Let’s dive into this rollercoaster of a story, packed with the latest details as of March 10, 2025, and explore how a small-town athlete became one of North America’s most hunted criminals.
The Early Days: A Snowboarding Prodigy Rises
Ryan James Wedding entered the world on September 14, 1981, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. His grandparents run a modest ski hill, planting the seeds for his love of snow sports. When his family relocates to Coquitlam, British Columbia, in 1991, young Ryan, barely eight years old, finds himself surrounded by mountains perfect for snowboarding. He grabs the opportunity with both hands and quickly shows talent on the slopes. By 1995, at just 14, he earned a spot on the Canadian National Snowboard Team, marking the start of a promising career.
Fast forward to 2002, and Ryan Wedding competes in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Representing Team Canada, he races in the men’s parallel giant slalom, finishing 24th overall. Although he doesn’t snag a medal, his participation cements his status as an Olympian—a dream come true for the kid from Thunder Bay. Friends and teammates remember him as competitive yet easygoing, a guy who loves the thrill of the sport. However, beneath the surface, Wedding’s life soon takes a sharp turn no one sees coming.
First Brushes with Trouble: The Shift Begins
After the Olympics, Wedding’s snowboarding career fades, but he doesn’t fade into obscurity. Instead, he stumbles into a darker path. In 2006, authorities in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, investigated a property linked to a massive marijuana grow operation. Police seize 6,800 plants, and Ryan Wedding’s name pops up in a search warrant alongside another snowboarder. Surprisingly, no charges stick at the time, leaving him free to roam. Yet, this moment hints at a shift—an athlete dipping his toes into the criminal underworld.
Two years later, in 2008, Wedding dives deeper into trouble. He flies from Vancouver to Los Angeles with two others, aiming to buy 24 kilograms of cocaine. Unbeknownst to him, the seller turns out to be a government informant. Federal agents swoop in, arresting Wedding and charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. His lawyer argues he only buys one kilogram, but the court doesn’t buy it. In 2010, a judge sentenced him to four years in a U.S. prison near San Diego. Wedding tells the court he regrets his “stupid and irresponsible” choices, promising a fresh start. Little does anyone know, this stint behind bars marks only the beginning.
Building an Empire: The Wedding Criminal Enterprise Takes Shape
Wedding walks out of prison in 2014, but instead of turning over a new leaf, he doubles down on crime. Authorities now allege he built a sprawling drug trafficking network dubbed “The Wedding Criminal Enterprise.” Based in Mexico, he reportedly partners with the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, once led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Using aliases like “El Jefe” (The Boss), “Giant,” and “Public Enemy,” Wedding transforms into a kingpin, overseeing the movement of massive cocaine shipments across North America.
Prosecutors claim his operation shifts an astonishing 60 tons of cocaine annually. The drugs flow from Colombia through Mexico, crossing into Southern California via Tijuana. From there, Wedding’s crew stores the cocaine in Los Angeles warehouses before trucking it to Canada and other U.S. cities. His second-in-command, Andrew Clark, and a Canada-based transportation network led by Hardeep Ratte and Gurpreet Singh, keep the operation humming. Cash pours in—hundreds of millions of dollars—along with cryptocurrencies worth $3 million, fueling a lavish lifestyle. However, Wedding’s empire doesn’t just thrive on drugs; it runs on violence.
Blood on His Hands: Alleged Murders Rock Communities
Authorities tie Wedding and Clark to a string of chilling murders, painting a picture of ruthless control. On November 20, 2023, gunmen stormed a rental home in Caledon, Ontario, targeting a family over a suspected stolen drug shipment. Jagtar Sidhu, 57, and his wife, Harbhajan Sidhu, 55, visiting from India, die in a hail of bullets. Their daughter, Jaspreet Sidhu, 28, takes 13 shots but miraculously survives, though she suffers life-altering injuries. The killers get it wrong—the Sidhus aren’t the intended targets, just innocent victims caught in a deadly mistake.
The violence doesn’t stop there. In April 2024, Wedding and Clark allegedly ordered the murder of Randy Fader, 29, gunned down in his driveway in Canada. A month later, on May 18, 2024, Mohammed Zafar, 39, died over a drug debt, another hit prosecutors pin on Wedding’s operation. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada calls their tactics “brutal,” noting they hire contract killers like Malik Damion Cunningham, aka “Mr. Perfect,” to eliminate rivals or anyone who crosses them. These killings send shockwaves through Ontario, exposing the dark reach of Wedding’s empire.
On the Run: A Fugitive Olympian
By 2015, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) hunt Wedding, but he slips through their fingers. After his release from U.S. prison, he flees to Mexico, allegedly living under the Sinaloa Cartel’s protection. U.S. authorities catch wind of his location briefly in early 2024, according to unsealed Ontario court records, yet he evades capture. On October 16, 2024, a California grand jury indicted Wedding, charging him with leading a criminal enterprise, drug trafficking, three murders, and one attempted murder. The net tightens, but he remains elusive.
On March 6, 2025, the FBI added Wedding to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, a rare move signaling his danger and priority status. The U.S. State Department ups the ante, offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest—doubling the FBI’s initial $50,000 bounty. Officials believe he hides in Mexico or possibly South or Central America, still pulling strings in his network. Meanwhile, Clark, arrested in Mexico on October 7, 2024, faces extradition to the U.S., leaving Wedding as the last big fish on the loose.
The Personal Side: Love, Loss, and Laundering
Even amid his criminal rise, Wedding’s personal life weaves into the narrative. In 2011, while serving his U.S. sentence, he married a British Columbia woman on Valentine’s Day in a Texas prison. Their union doesn’t last, but her name resurfaces in 2025 probes tied to money laundering and drugs. Court documents allege she uses $109,000 from a cannabis operation to pay down a mortgage, part of a broader scheme linked to Wedding’s profits. She denies wrongdoing, settling civil cases without admitting guilt, but the connection underscores how deeply his crimes entangle those around him.
Another bizarre twist emerges in 2025. A Montreal landlord, accused of shipping meth to repay a debt to Wedding, claims threats against his mother push him into action. Wedding’s ex-wife also ties into a kidnapping incident involving a businessman, Safi, who owes $400,000. Thugs abduct Safi at gunpoint, demanding payment, while cell records suggest she listens in. She insists it’s a misunderstanding, but these stories highlight the chaos Wedding leaves in his wake, even from afar.
FAQs About Ryan Wedding
1. Who is Ryan Wedding, and why do people care about him now?
Ryan Wedding starts as a Canadian Olympic snowboarder, competing in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Today, he grabs attention as a fugitive topping the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in March 2025. Authorities accuse him of running a billion-dollar drug trafficking ring and ordering murders across North America. His dramatic fall from athlete to alleged crime lord fascinates the public and fuels a massive manhunt.
2. What crimes do officials say Ryan Wedding commits?
Clash Prosecutors charged Wedding with leading “The Wedding Criminal Enterprise,” a network trafficking 60 tons of cocaine yearly from Colombia to the U.S. and Canada. They also link him to three murders and one attempted murder in Ontario, including the 2023 mistaken-identity killing of an Indian couple. Additional allegations include conspiracy to distribute cocaine and orchestrating hits on rivals or debtors, painting him as a violent kingpin.
3. Where do authorities think Ryan Wedding hides today?
Shannon As of March 10, 2025, officials believe Wedding lives in Mexico, possibly under the Sinaloa Cartel’s protection, or somewhere in South or Central America. He fled there after his 2014 prison release, evading the RCMP since 2015. The FBI notes tips about his location pour in, but he remains uncaptured, likely relying on aliases like “El Jefe” or “Public Enemy” to stay hidden.
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