BREAKING: Authorities in Mexico have launched urgent raids targeting Ryan Wedding, a fugitive Canadian snowboarder and one of the FBI’s most-wanted criminals. In a significant operation on December 25, 2023, officials seized a shocking array of items, including 62 high-end motorcycles, Olympic medals, drugs, and ammunition, in a crackdown that underscores the gravity of his alleged crimes.
Mexican authorities confirmed that their operations, spanning multiple locations in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, were aimed at capturing a “former Olympic athlete” wanted by the United States. While they did not explicitly name Wedding, the 44-year-old is the only Olympic competitor on the FBI’s list for serious drug trafficking offenses.
During the raids, authorities confiscated two Olympic medals, quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana, various firearms ammunition, significant artwork, and critical documents connected to Wedding’s extensive criminal network. Notably, Wedding competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, finishing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom, but did not secure any medals. The origin of the seized medals remains unclear.
Wedding was placed on the FBI’s most-wanted list in March 2023, identified as the alleged leader of a billion-dollar drug trafficking organization. Officials estimate his group is responsible for smuggling an alarming 60 metric tonnes of cocaine annually from Mexico through California to Canada. This staggering operation reportedly involves mass drug distribution and even contract killings.
The raids reflect an escalating effort by authorities to dismantle Wedding’s criminal enterprise, which has been linked to a series of violent incidents in North America. As more details emerge, the implications of this operation resonate widely, indicating a deep-rooted issue of drug trafficking that affects not only the region but also international relations.
Authorities urge anyone with information about Ryan Wedding’s whereabouts to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected as officials continue to comb through the evidence collected during the raids.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
