FBI confiscates $13 million ultra-rare Mercedes from fugitive Olympic snowboarder linked to major drug trafficking ring.

From Olympics to Infamy: The Unraveling Tale of Ryan Wedding

The journey of a former Olympian often leads to a successful career in coaching or broadcasting; however, for one Canadian athlete, the path diverged dramatically. Ryan Wedding, who once represented Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics, is now facing allegations of being a major player in a global cocaine trafficking operation. Authorities claim his illicit activities rival those of notorious drug lords.

The Rise and Fall of an Olympian

Ryan Wedding, hailing from Thunder Bay, Ontario, came from a family deeply rooted in winter sports. His grandparents owned the Mount Baldy ski resort, where he first learned to snowboard. By his late teens, Wedding had established himself as one of Canada’s top snowboarders, specializing in the parallel giant slalom. This dedication earned him a spot on the Canadian Olympic team, propelling him to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Despite placing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom, his post-Olympic career didn’t follow the expected trajectory of fame and sponsorships. Instead, after a brief continuation in competitive snowboarding, he quietly stepped away from the sport. It was a decision that would soon lead to a pivotal and troubling transformation. In 2008, Wedding was arrested after attempting to buy cocaine in San Diego from an undercover FBI agent. He was convicted in 2009 and sentenced the following year. During the sentencing, he expressed regret for his “stupid decisions” driven by the lure of “easy money.” The judge, believing in his remorse, issued a lighter sentence, resulting in his release from federal prison in December 2011.

However, prosecutors allege that shortly after his release, Wedding resumed criminal activity, allegedly building a vast drug trafficking network spanning British Columbia, Southern California, and Mexico. Investigators describe him as the mastermind of a sophisticated operation that reportedly moved approximately 60 metric tons of cocaine into Los Angeles annually, generating over $1 billion in yearly revenue. His organization utilized long-haul trucks, stash houses, and maritime routes, along with adopting various laundering methods through shell companies, cryptocurrency, and luxury assets.

As his criminal empire expanded, authorities linked him to violent measures, including ordering attacks on rival traffickers and placing bounties on federal witnesses. One witness was later murdered in Medellín, Colombia. Recent indictments reveal that Wedding employed a Canadian-based assassination crew for retaliatory killings and leveraged a now-defunct Canadian website to track targets.

Wedding’s criminal activities have drawn the attention of law enforcement, placing him on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. Recent developments included the seizure of a rare 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster, valued at an estimated $13 million. Federal agents assert that the car was purchased with profits from his alleged drug operations. This action was part of a larger initiative against his organization that has raised significant concern among authorities.

Ongoing Manhunt

As federal and Canadian agencies close in on his operations, Wedding remains elusive, believed to be hiding in Mexico with support from cartel affiliates. A $15 million reward is now posted for information leading to his capture, one of the largest of its kind in North America. Investigators assert they are steadily tracking his movements, confident that his time on the run is limited.