Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding has been arrested in Mexico and will be extradited to the U.S. after years on the run, FBI Director Kash Patel has stated.
Wedding, who was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, is accused of operating a transnational drug trafficking operation that transported tonnes of cocaine across international borders.
The 44-year-old was also wanted on murder charges, with U.S. officials suspecting he was living in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa drug cartel.
Mike Duheme, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, noted the significance of this arrest, stating, No single agency or nation can combat transnational organised crime alone.
He added, We can finally say that our communities, our countries, are much safer with the arrest of Ryan Wedding. Wedding is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.
He is accused of leading a drug trafficking operation responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tonnes of cocaine annually, and his criminal enterprise halted after his capture.
This organization operated across North America and various Latin American countries, generating estimated revenues of $1 billion a year mostly through cocaine sales, primarily supplying Canada.
Before his arrest, Wedding faced accusations of murder, including that of a federal witness in a prior case against him. Authorities allege he has ordered numerous murders across several countries.
The FBI previously offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Details regarding how Wedding was captured remain vague, though he was taken into custody in Mexico City. Mexican officials confirmed that Wedding voluntarily surrendered at the U.S. embassy.
Patel likened Wedding to notorious drug lords like Pablo Escobar and Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán, stating that tackling a figure like Wedding requires a united front.
In recent months, Mexican authorities had seized luxury items belonging to Wedding, including $40 million worth of racing motorcycles, rare artwork, and two Olympic medals, though it's unclear to whom these medals were awarded.
Wedding originally competed in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, finishing in 24th place in the men's giant parallel slalom event.
This arrest indeed marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing fight against organized crime.
