A former Olympic snowboarder turned drug kingpin placed a multimillion-dollar bounty on a federal witness and successfully orchestrated their murder in Colombia, demonstrating the deadly lengths criminals will go to silence those who cooperate with American justice.
Story Snapshot
- Ryan Wedding, a 2002 Olympian, is charged with ordering the murder of a witness and running a massive cocaine operation.
- Placed a multimillion-dollar bounty on a federal witness who testified against him in a 2024 narcotics case.
- Led a transnational drug network importing 60 metric tons of cocaine annually through Mexico to the US and Canada.
- Operation Giant Slalom resulted in 35 indictments, 2,000 kilos seized, and $3.2 million in cryptocurrency recovered.
From Olympic Glory to Criminal Empire
Ryan Wedding’s transformation from Olympic competitor to international drug lord exemplifies how far some individuals fall from representing their nations on the world’s biggest stage.
The 44-year-old Canadian competed in snowboarding for his country in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics before his first criminal conviction in 2010 for attempting to purchase cocaine from a federal agent.
This early brush with law enforcement apparently did not deter Wedding from pursuing an increasingly dangerous criminal path that would eventually lead to murder charges.
#BREAKING 🚨 Olympian turned drug kingpin Ryan Wedding — currently on the FBI's top 10 most wanted list — has been accused of ordering the murder of a witness.
Details: https://t.co/MfDhwaGT7M pic.twitter.com/tI4q9F5wch
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 19, 2025
Witness Intimidation Escalates to Murder
Federal prosecutors reveal that Wedding issued a multimillion-dollar bounty on a cooperating witness known as “Victim A” who had testified in a 2024 federal narcotics case against him.
Court documents detail how Wedding enlisted co-conspirators to locate and kill the witness in Colombia, successfully carrying out the assassination in January 2025.
Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli characterized the killing as “a cruel, cold-blooded act that could not and did not go unanswered,” highlighting the serious threat witness intimidation poses to America’s justice system.
Massive Cocaine Pipeline Exposed
Attorney General Pamela Bondi described Wedding’s organization as one of the “most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations in this world,” responsible for importing approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into Los Angeles via semi-trucks from Mexico.
The sophisticated network moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California before distribution to Canada and other U.S. locations.
The operation of Weddings represents precisely the type of transnational criminal enterprise that threatens American communities with deadly narcotics and violence, undermining border security and public safety.
Law Enforcement Response Yields Major Results
Operation Giant Slalom demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated international law enforcement efforts against transnational crime. FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis emphasized the operation’s collaborative nature, involving “dedicated partners collaborating in multiple countries” to capture Wedding and dismantle his network.
The investigation has resulted in 35 total indictments, seizure of 2,000 kilograms of drugs and numerous weapons, plus recovery of $3.2 million in cryptocurrency. Wedding now faces potential life imprisonment and remains on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List with a $15 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest.
