Ryan Wedding, the former Olympic snowboarder allegedly behind one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations, was arrested, two law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation told NBC News on Friday.
Wedding, 44, was wanted by the FBI on charges of running a transnational drug trafficking organization responsible for importing about 60 metric tons of cocaine a year into Los Angeles via semitrucks from Mexico, Attorney General Pam Bondi previously said at a news conference.
FBI Director Kash Patel had compared Wedding — whose nicknames include “Public Enemy,” “El Jefe,” and “Giant” — to Pablo Escobar and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
In March, Wedding was added to the FBI’s list of ten most wanted fugitives, and there was a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest and/or prosecution.
Authorities will announce more details on his arrest at a Friday morning news conference.
The Canadian former athlete was charged in a September 2024 superseding indictment with attempted murder and other counts related to the drug enterprise. In November, a grand jury indictment was unsealed charging him in the death of a federal witness who was supposed to testify against him.
The witness was fatally shot at a restaurant after authorities said Wedding “placed a bounty” on his head and used a Canadian website to find the witness and his wife.
He is charged with overseeing the operations of a criminal enterprise, including engaging in witness intimidation tactics such as murder, and enriching himself with the enterprise’s laundered drug proceeds.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
