### Former Canadian Olympian Charged in Major Cocaine Trafficking Operation

LOS ANGELES — Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder for Canada, has been charged by authorities with orchestrating a significant drug trafficking network. The operation was alleged to have transported massive quantities of cocaine throughout the Americas, resulting in several fatalities, authorities announced on Thursday.

The FBI has issued a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and extradition of Wedding, who is currently considered a fugitive. A resident of Mexico and a Canadian citizen, the 43-year-old faces multiple charges in the United States, including running a criminal enterprise, murder, and conspiring to distribute cocaine.

According to U.S. prosecutors, Wedding's criminal organization was involved in moving substantial shipments of cocaine from Colombia, transiting through Mexico and California, and reaching Canada and other U.S. locations. The group utilized long-haul semitrucks for these international drug shipments. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada in Los Angeles revealed that Wedding is one of 16 individuals charged in connection with the drug ring, which allegedly moved 60 tons of cocaine annually. Four of these individuals remain fugitives.

"He chose to become a major drug trafficker, and he chose to become a killer," Estrada commented during a press briefing.

FBI special agent Krysti Hawkins disclosed that the enforcement action led to the arrests of a dozen people in Florida, Michigan, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico. The syndicate is accused of multiple homicides, including the killing of two family members in Canada over a stolen drug shipment, a case which authorities later identified as involving mistaken identity. Additionally, one other person was reportedly murdered by the group.

As part of the investigation, authorities seized cocaine, weapons, ammunition, cash, and more than $3 million in cryptocurrency.

Wedding's Olympic history includes competing for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, where he placed 24th in the parallel giant slalom event.

The former athlete also faces unresolved drug trafficking charges in Canada dating back to 2015, as explained by Chris Leather, chief superintendent with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Furthermore, federal records indicate that Wedding was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the U.S. and was sentenced to prison in 2010. Estrada noted that after Wedding's release, he allegedly resumed his trafficking activities under the protection of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel.