FBI shares new photo of Canadian former Olympics star turned drug kingpin murderer

A new photo of the Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted for running a murderous international drug ring has been released by the FBI. 

The undated image shows Ryan James Wedding, 43, looking at his phone at an undisclosed location.

The one-time Olympian stands accused of ordering multiple murders in Canada as the alleged leader of a drug-trafficking network.

Wedding was one of 16 defendants named in a U.S. indictment unsealed last month.

At the time, authorities released a photo of him with long hair and a patchy beard. 

In the new image, he is shown with shorter hair.

Wedding is accused of ordering several killings in Canada as the kingpin of a drug-trafficking outfit that smuggled over 1,800 kilograms of cocaine across North America. 

The accused trafficking group includes nine other Canadians and operated across Colombia, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.

In the new photo (above), Wedding is seen with shorter hair. Authorities in October released a photo of him shown with longer hair

The one-time Olympian stands accused of ordering multiple murders in Canada as the alleged leader of a drug-trafficking network

The former Olympian is believed to be hiding in Mexico. 

He is linked to at least three deadly shootings in Canada, including the killing of an innocent couple in Caledon, Ontario. 

Wedding is the primary defendant in the indictment and is wanted on eight charges, including three counts of murder tied to a continuing criminal enterprise. 

His alleged deputy, 34-year-old Canadian Andrew Clark, is currently in custody.

In addition to the indictment, Wedding faces unrelated drug-trafficking charges in Canada that have been pending since 2015, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 

An extradition court application obtained by CTV News Toronto last month revealed that U.S. authorities were aware of Weddings location in January 2024 but did not apprehend him. 

According to a statement of facts included in the application, a cooperating witness reported meeting with Wedding and Clark in Mexico City at the time.

Wedding represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom.

Wedding represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom 

In 2006, he was named in a Maple Ridge, British Columbia, search warrant related to an investigation into an illegal marijuana growing operation, though he was never charged.

In 2010, he was arrested and later convicted for attempting to purchase cocaine from a U.S. government agent, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.

According to U.S. District Attorney Martin Estrada, investigators believe Wedding resumed drug trafficking after his release and has been under the protection of Mexicos Sinaloa Cartel since.

The FBI has announced a reward of $50,000 for information leading to his arrest.