Canadian Ex-Olympic Snowboarder Embroiled in Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Trafficking Ring and Multiple Murders
A shocking turn of events has unfolded for Ryan Wedding, a 44-year-old Canadian former Olympic snowboarder. Wedding was arrested last week after surrendering at the US embassy in Mexico, but his attorney Anthony Colombo claims that his client had not actually surrendered and was apprehended instead.
Wedding faces an astonishing array of charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, witness tampering, and money laundering. He is accused of orchestrating a massive cocaine distribution network that generated over $1 billion annually and supplied the majority of cocaine to Canada. Authorities claim that Wedding worked closely with the notorious Sinaloa cartel.
The allegations against Wedding are staggering, with authorities alleging that he directed the murder of at least four individuals, including two family members in Ontario, as well as a murder in Canada linked to a debt over a drug deal. The FBI has described Wedding as "the largest narco-trafficker in modern times," comparing him to infamous figures like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Pablo Escobar.
However, some experts have raised skepticism about the comparisons, pointing out that there is no evidence to suggest that Wedding controls significant territory or leads an armed militia. Stephen Woodman, a security analyst based in Mexico, notes that while Wedding's operation was undoubtedly vast, it does not appear to be on the same scale as that of El Chapo.
Wedding pleaded not guilty to 17 felony charges during his arraignment in Santa Ana court last Monday and will remain jailed without bond. His trial is scheduled to begin on March 24th. A reward of up to $15 million was offered for information leading to Wedding's arrest, which ultimately led to his capture.
The case has sent shockwaves through Canada and the US, with authorities vowing to bring those responsible to justice. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what evidence will be presented against Wedding and whether he will ultimately face the charges brought against him.
A shocking turn of events has unfolded for Ryan Wedding, a 44-year-old Canadian former Olympic snowboarder. Wedding was arrested last week after surrendering at the US embassy in Mexico, but his attorney Anthony Colombo claims that his client had not actually surrendered and was apprehended instead.
Wedding faces an astonishing array of charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, witness tampering, and money laundering. He is accused of orchestrating a massive cocaine distribution network that generated over $1 billion annually and supplied the majority of cocaine to Canada. Authorities claim that Wedding worked closely with the notorious Sinaloa cartel.
The allegations against Wedding are staggering, with authorities alleging that he directed the murder of at least four individuals, including two family members in Ontario, as well as a murder in Canada linked to a debt over a drug deal. The FBI has described Wedding as "the largest narco-trafficker in modern times," comparing him to infamous figures like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Pablo Escobar.
However, some experts have raised skepticism about the comparisons, pointing out that there is no evidence to suggest that Wedding controls significant territory or leads an armed militia. Stephen Woodman, a security analyst based in Mexico, notes that while Wedding's operation was undoubtedly vast, it does not appear to be on the same scale as that of El Chapo.
Wedding pleaded not guilty to 17 felony charges during his arraignment in Santa Ana court last Monday and will remain jailed without bond. His trial is scheduled to begin on March 24th. A reward of up to $15 million was offered for information leading to Wedding's arrest, which ultimately led to his capture.
The case has sent shockwaves through Canada and the US, with authorities vowing to bring those responsible to justice. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what evidence will be presented against Wedding and whether he will ultimately face the charges brought against him.
This is a truly astonishing development in the world of organized crime. The notion that someone with Olympic credentials could be involved in such a massive cocaine trafficking ring is simply mind-boggling. I mean, one can't help but wonder how this all came to pass - was it a gradual descent into darkness or did he always have these inclinations? 
I dont know how people get into that life but it sounds super sketchy 
does anyone know more about him? 
, but also can we talk about how the guy pleads not guilty after all these allegations? like, doesn't he know his rep is toast now? 
anyway, fingers crossed for a fair trial and hopefully justice for the victims 
i mean, $1 billion in annual sales is crazy, but if he didn't control any territory or have an armed militia then maybe he wasn't the same level of player as el chapo or escobar 
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. I'm trying to understand how someone who seems like they had a normal life as an athlete could get sucked into something so dark and violent.
. One thing's for sure, the justice system has got its work cut out for it if Wedding goes down for all these charges 
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. I mean, come on $1 billion a year in cocaine? That's just insane! But you know what's even more crazy is that people are comparing him to El Chapo and Pablo Escobar like he's some kind of narco-legend 
. Newsflash: he's not. He's just a dude who got caught up in something big and now he's facing the consequences.
. Is he really guilty or was he set up? We'll have to wait and see.
. I mean, $1 billion a year is just mind-boggling - how does someone get involved in that kinda thing, especially when they're from Canada? 
I get where the FBI is coming from, but it feels like they're drawing a line in the sand with Wedding - saying he's not on the same level as those guys. But if he's behind such a massive operation... what else are we missing?
. I guess this is just another reminder that there are still dark corners of the world we don't fully understand or control.
. One thing's for sure, though: his Olympic medals might not be worth anything now 
I mean, $1 billion annually is insane!!! 
. sometimes it takes someone else's mistakes to show us the error of our ways...
it's like he thought he could get away with it all. the comparison to el chapo is a bit of a stretch, though - i've read some experts say it's not entirely fair because wedding doesn't seem to have the same level of control as el chapo did. but still, 17 felony charges? that's a lot to deal with. i hope they catch him and bring him to justice soon 
i mean, who would've thought that someone from our school's sports team would be involved in all this? it's crazy how one person can get caught up in something so huge and have to face these serious charges 
.