Ryan Wedding arrested after manhunt for ex-Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, officers say

Former Olympic Snowboarder Ryan Wedding Arrested in Mexico, Accused of Being a Major Drug Kingpin

Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, a 44-year-old Canadian national, was taken into custody in Mexico City on Thursday night, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, has been accused of running a major drug trafficking network that moved cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to the U.S. and Canada.

Patel announced the arrest at a news conference at Southern California’s Ontario International Airport, where Wedding was brought after being taken into custody. The FBI director described Wedding as a “modern-day ‘El Chapo,'” comparing him to the notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the U.S. Wedding was also known by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy.”

Ryan Wedding, center, is escorted by federal authorities after arriving at Ontario International Airport in Southern California, Jan. 23, 2026.
FBI

Background and Investigation

Wedding’s arrest is the result of a year-long investigation by the FBI, according to Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. The investigation involved collaboration with Mexican authorities, who worked with the U.S. to apprehend Wedding. Patel praised the interagency effort, saying it was a “great operation that came together through interagency success.”

Wedding was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list last year and was accused of placing a “multimillion-dollar bounty” on a federal witness involved in a narcotics case against him. He is also accused of ordering the killings of two members of a Canadian family in 2023 and another person in 2024 over a drug debt.

FBI Director Kash Patel announces the apprehension of Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who was on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list, during a press conference in Ontario, California, U.S., January 23, 2026.
Mike Blake / REUTERS

Upcoming Proceedings

The Justice Department expects Wedding’s arraignment to take place on Monday afternoon in Los Angeles. Patel declined to comment on the $15 million reward that was being offered by the U.S. for Wedding’s capture, citing the need to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

A reward poster for the arrest of Ryan James Wedding is visible following a news conference  at the Justice Department on Nov. 19, 2025 in Washington, D.C. 
Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Wedding’s arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. As the investigation continues, the public can expect to learn more about the extent of Wedding’s alleged operations and the impact of his arrest on the global drug trade.

Ryan Wedding is seen in a picture the FBI says was taken in 2025.

Contributors to this report include Anna Schecter and Chelsea Hylton.

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