Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, listed as one of the FBI's 10 most wanted criminals, has been arrested in Mexico, US authorities confirmed, BTA reported.
The arrest was announced by Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel on the social media platform X. The operation was carried out through successful cooperation with international partners and the Mexican government, Patel said at a press conference.
Wedding, a Canadian citizen, is accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking network and allegedly ordered multiple murders to protect and expand his operations.
Authorities have offered a $15 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the 44-year-old man. “Wedding has been transported to the United States to face justice,“ Bondi wrote, adding that his arrest reflects the Trump administration's emphasis on law and order.
According to Patel, Wedding had been hiding in Mexico for more than a decade. His organization is alleged to have transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico to the United States and Canada.
“This is a huge day for a safer North America and the world, and a message that those who break our laws and harm our citizens will be brought to justice,” Patel said.
Wedding competed for Canada in alpine snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom.