FBI Top‑Ten Fugitive and Ex‑Olympian Ryan Wedding Arrested in Mexico on U.S. Cocaine‑Trafficking and Murder Charges
FBI Top Ten fugitive and former Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding, 44, was arrested in Mexico on U.S. cocaine‑trafficking and murder charges, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday on social media. U.S. authorities allege Wedding collaborated with Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, hid in Mexico, and hired a hit man who killed witness Jonathan Acebedo‑Garcia in Medellín, Colombia; Wedding finished 24th in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
📌 Key Facts
- Ryan Wedding, 44, a former Canadian snowboarder who finished 24th in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, was arrested in Mexico; FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest Friday in a social‑media post.
- U.S. authorities say Wedding had been hiding in Mexico and accuse him of collaborating with Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
- U.S. prosecutors allege Wedding ran a cocaine‑trafficking drug ring.
- Authorities allege Wedding hired a hit man who killed witness Jonathan Acebedo‑Garcia in Medellín, Colombia.
- These details were reported by The New York Times.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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January 23, 2026
4:45 PM
Ryan Wedding, Canadian Ex-Snowboarder Accused of Running Drug Ring, Is Arrested
New information:
- New York Times confirms FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wedding’s arrest Friday in a social‑media post.
- Article specifies that U.S. authorities accuse Wedding of collaborating with Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and hiding in Mexico.
- Provides detail that witness Jonathan Acebedo‑Garcia was killed in Medellín, Colombia, where authorities say Wedding hired a hit man.
- Notes Wedding’s age (44) and his 24th‑place finish in parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, underscoring prior public profile.