Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who was on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, was taken into custody after turning himself in at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City and was flown to Southern California on January 23, 2026, federal officials said. Prosecutors have accused Wedding of running a violent, transnational cocaine trafficking organization that moved large shipments from Colombia through Mexico into the United States and Canada, and of ordering multiple killings to protect the operation.
What happened, and when
The case against Wedding unfolded over more than a year, with authorities in multiple countries coordinating investigations. Key public milestones are:
Date | Event |
|---|---|
2002 | Competed for Canada in snowboarding at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. |
October 17, 2024 | U.S. prosecutors unsealed charges alleging he led a drug trafficking enterprise and ordered killings. |
March 6, 2025 | Wedding was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. |
November 19, 2025 | U.S. officials announced sanctions and raised the reward to $15 million. |
Late 2025 | Authorities executed raids and seized luxury assets, including motorcycles and high-end vehicles. |
January 22–23, 2026 | Wedding surrendered in Mexico and was flown to California to face federal charges. |
Immediate arrest details
According to officials, Wedding voluntarily surrendered at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City and was transferred to U.S. custody, arriving at Ontario International Airport in Southern California the morning of January 23, 2026. Justice Department and FBI representatives said the move was the result of extended multinational work involving investigators from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Colombia and other partners.
"We will find him, and we will bring him to justice," an FBI field office official said at a January 23 press briefing.
The charges and the government's allegations
Federal indictments against Wedding and several alleged associates accuse them of operating a continuing criminal enterprise involving international cocaine shipments, money laundering, witness intimidation and murder. Prosecutors say the organization moved very large quantities of cocaine each year, with one public estimate used by officials putting the figure at roughly 60 metric tons annually.
Alleged law enforcement findings and actions tied to the investigation include:
- Dozens of arrests and indictments of alleged associates, according to prosecutors.
- Seizure of assets described by authorities as proceeds of trafficking, including luxury motorcycles and high-end vehicles, valued in the millions.
- Treasury department sanctions that aimed to cut off financial access to persons and entities tied to the alleged operation.
Snapshot of alleged criminal counts
```json
{
"defendant": "Ryan James Wedding",
"allegations": ["conspiracy to distribute cocaine", "continuing criminal enterprise", "murder in connection with a criminal enterprise", "money laundering", "witness intimidation"]
}
```
That code block is a simple summary of public charge categories, and not a substitute for formal indictments or court filings.
Reactions and perspectives
Law enforcement: Federal officials, speaking at public briefings, framed the arrest as the culmination of a complex, multinational effort, and emphasized both the scale of the alleged trafficking and the violence prosecutors say accompanied it. They portrayed Wedding as an organized crime leader who exploited routes through Mexico to move drugs north, and who used brutality to silence witnesses.
Defense and legal experts: Observers who follow extradition and transnational prosecutions caution that arrest and custody now begin a legal process that will involve careful review of evidence, potential challenges over jurisdiction and procedure, and the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Arrest does not equal conviction, and defense lawyers often stress the importance of resisting inflamed rhetoric that can appear before trial.
Sports and local communities: The story has also revived questions about how a well known athlete could be alleged to run a criminal enterprise, and how communities look back at former public figures who change course. Former teammates and sporting colleagues are likely to be asked for comment as proceedings move forward, and sports organizations sometimes respond by distancing themselves from individuals who face serious criminal allegations.
Victims and families: Prosecutors have emphasized the human toll, including the killing of a federal witness who authorities say was murdered before he could testify. That violence is central to the most serious counts, and has been a key motivator in appeals for cooperation across borders.
What comes next in court and custody
Officials said Wedding is expected to appear in federal court in the Central District of California in the days after his transfer to the United States. The arrest starts the formal process of detention hearings, potential extradition steps if other countries seek custody, and pretrial litigation over discovery and evidence. Given the gravity of the allegations, prosecutors are likely to press for continued detention pending trial, citing flight risk and danger to the community.
Why this case matters
This prosecution touches on several broader issues that draw sustained public attention: the cross border flow of illicit drugs, the ability of organized crime to launder and hide high value assets, and the limits of law enforcement when suspects can rely on protection and shelter in other countries. It also raises questions about rehabilitation and recidivism in the lives of former athletes, and about how justice systems handle cases with international reach.
Facts, not conclusions
Reporting to date has been grounded in official statements, court actions and law enforcement releases. Key allegations about shipments, killings and organizational scale come from prosecutors and federal agencies, and must still be tested in court. Defense representatives have not yet prevailed in changing the public narrative, and the law requires that Wedding be treated as innocent unless and until a court finds him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Quick reference: what to watch for next
- Scheduling of the first federal arraignment and detention hearing, expected the week of January 26, 2026.
- Formal filings of superseding indictments, or additional unsealed charges.
- Any extradition or custody requests by Canada or other countries.
- Pretrial disclosures from prosecutors, and any motions from defense counsel challenging evidence.
Byline note: David Anderson is a veteran reporter with more than two decades covering criminal justice and international investigations. This article synthesizes recent public statements, court filings and media reporting to present a factual, balanced summary of the Ryan Wedding case as it stood at the time of writing.