U.S. Sanctions Former Olympian Ryan Wedding for Drug Trafficking

The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who is accused of operating a violent global drug trafficking network from Mexico. The 44-year-old is currently listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives and is believed to be responsible for numerous murders, including those of U.S. citizens. Officials claim he oversees a significant cocaine operation, moving large quantities from Colombia and Mexico to the United States and Canada.

The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, also target nine of Wedding’s associates and nine related companies. This action aims to disrupt a network described as moving multi-ton shipments of cocaine while laundering profits through luxury businesses. According to John K. Hurley, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, “Today we’re exposing the network of associates and enablers behind Ryan Wedding — one of the most notorious criminals and narcotraffickers still evading justice.”

The Treasury Department’s report indicates that Wedding has ordered dozens of murders globally, employing “sophisticated methods” to identify and eliminate rivals and witnesses. Among those sanctioned are:

– Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarado, known as “the General,” a former Mexican law enforcement officer accused of providing protection to Wedding in Mexico.
– Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno, Wedding’s wife, who allegedly launders drug money and assists in violent acts.
– Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, a Colombian national accused of arranging the murder of a federal witness in January 2025.
– Deepak Balwant Paradkar, a Canadian attorney accused of facilitating drug contacts and bribery, as well as helping Wedding monitor potential targets.

The sanctions also extend to alleged money launderers in Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom, along with several businesses, including a jewelry store in Toronto and companies involved in fuel distribution in Mexico. As a result of these measures, any assets owned by the sanctioned individuals or entities within the United States are frozen, and U.S. individuals and companies are prohibited from engaging in business with them.

In a further effort to capture Wedding, the State Department has increased its reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction to $15 million, up from $10 million in March. Authorities suspect that Wedding is currently residing in Mexico and may have affiliations with the Sinaloa cartel. The FBI lists several aliases for him, including “El Jefe,” “Public Enemy,” and “James Conrad King.”

Wedding represented Canada at the 2002 Olympics, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom. The implications of these sanctions highlight the ongoing challenges authorities face in combating international drug trafficking and organized crime.