Liputan6.com, Jakarta The world of sports and crime was once again shocked by the latest news concerning Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder.
On November 19, 2025, United States authorities announced serious new charges against Wedding.
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These charges included ordering the murder of a federal witness, who was shot dead in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.
The witness was scheduled to testify in a federal narcotics case against Wedding, but was killed before he could testify.
This incident further highlighted the shocking transition from Olympic athlete to leader of a ruthless transnational criminal organization.
Wedding is now a highly wanted fugitive, with a bounty on his arrest reaching tens of millions of dollars.
This case highlights how an individual who once represented his country on the international stage can become enmeshed in the web of organized crime.
These new charges include not only murder, but also witness tampering and intimidation, money laundering, and large-scale drug trafficking.
Authorities continue to hunt for Wedding, who is believed to be hiding in Mexico under the protection of a drug cartel.
Recent Indictments and Ryan Wedding's Criminal Network
On November 19, 2025, a shocking new indictment was announced against Ryan Wedding, further aggravating the case against him.
This indictment specifically accuses him of ordering the murder of a federal witness in January 2025.
The witness was shot dead at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, before he could testify crucially in a federal drug case involving Wedding.
Prosecutors stated that Wedding is believed to have issued a "million-dollar bounty" on the witness, demonstrating the extent of his ruthlessness and influence within the criminal underworld.
In addition to the murder charge, Wedding was also charged with two additional counts of witness tampering and intimidation, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
According to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Wedding's organization was responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into the Los Angeles area via semi-truck from Mexico.
He was also described as the largest cocaine distributor in Canada.
His criminal network involved witness intimidation tactics, including murder, and enriched himself by laundering drug proceeds through various schemes.
International Manhunt and High Rewards
Ryan Wedding's status as a fugitive was further emphasized when he was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on March 6, 2025.
This addition replaced Alexis Flores, signaling the high priority placed on his capture by US authorities.
Wedding is believed to be hiding in Mexico, likely under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful criminal organization.
The US State Department has increased the reward for information leading to Wedding's capture from $10 million to $15 million, demonstrating the seriousness of the effort to capture him.
Additionally, an additional reward of up to $2 million is being offered for information leading to the arrest of other individuals involved in the witness murder.
This is an effort to dismantle the entire network involved.
On the same day as the announcement of the new indictments, the US Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on Wedding.
Ten other individuals have been arrested in connection with these federal indictments, including Canadian lawyer Deepak Paradkar, who allegedly advised Wedding to murder the witness.
Seven other Canadians with alleged Wedding organized crime ties were also arrested, indicating a large-scale law enforcement operation.
Ryan Wedding Profile: From Snowboarding to the Underworld
Ryan James Wedding, born on September 14, 1981, is a Canadian citizen who has represented his country in sports.
He is a former Olympic snowboarder who competed in the men's parallel giant slalom event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
However, after his athletic career ended, Wedding turned to the dark side and became a transnational drug trafficker.He is known by various aliases, indicating an attempt to evade identification and capture.
Some of his aliases include "El Jefe," "Giant," "Public Enemy," "James Conrad King," and "El Toro."
His physical characteristics include a height of 190 cm, a weight of 109 kg, brown hair, blue eyes, and tattoos on his arms. This profile has been crucial in law enforcement's efforts to track him down.