New federal indictment alleges Ryan Wedding ordered a witness’s killing in Colombia as investigators expand a transnational drug case.
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities on Wednesday raised the reward to $15 million for information leading to the capture of Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder now on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, after unsealing new charges that accuse him of orchestrating the murder of a federal witness in Colombia.
Officials said the higher reward marks a new phase in a sprawling investigation into a cross-border cocaine network they allege Wedding led from Mexico into the United States and Canada. The Justice Department announced arrests of multiple co-defendants as part of a nine-count indictment and said Wedding, 44, remains a fugitive believed to be receiving protection in Mexico. The State Department approved the reward increase under its narcotics program, and Treasury imposed related sanctions, signaling a coordinated push to pressure associates, restrict access to money, and generate leads on his whereabouts.
According to the new indictment, the witness was gunned down on Jan. 31 in Medellín, Colombia, after being targeted to thwart Wedding’s extradition to the United States. Prosecutors say Wedding directed the plot while continuing to oversee drug shipments that moved through stash locations in Southern California before traveling north. The FBI elevated Wedding to its Ten Most Wanted list earlier this year; the bureau now describes him as armed, dangerous, and adept at exploiting cartel-controlled corridors. “There is an increased $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest and/or prosecution,” the Justice Department said in announcing the case. Investigators also outlined additional rewards tied to identifying the hit team responsible for the killing.
The Justice Department said 10 defendants were arrested in coordinated operations and a total of 11 are now in custody linked to the murder conspiracy and broader trafficking scheme. The nine-count filing charges Wedding with operating a criminal enterprise, witness tampering by murder, and money laundering, among other offenses. Court documents describe encrypted messaging, shell companies, and long-haul trucks used to move cocaine across borders. Authorities said Wedding’s trusted lieutenants handled logistics while lawyers, fixers, and online intermediaries attempted to intimidate or smear witnesses. Officials declined to specify who pulled the trigger in Medellín, saying that suspect remains at large. The FBI asked anyone with credible tips on Wedding’s location to contact law enforcement.
Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, has appeared in law-enforcement bulletins for years, including a March designation to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted that carried a $10 million notice at the time. Wednesday’s move increases the figure to $15 million and adds State Department backing through the Narcotics Rewards Program. Treasury’s parallel action targets alleged facilitators and front companies connected to Wedding’s network, aiming to freeze assets and disrupt payments for protection and transport. Officials say the alleged enterprise relied on cartel-controlled routes and corrupt brokers to keep loads moving from Colombia through Mexico to the Los Angeles area before distribution to U.S. cities and into Canada.
The new indictment, unsealed in federal court in California, details communications around the witness’s murder and outlines how conspirators allegedly posted identifying information to assist in the hit. Prosecutors say the victim had cooperated in a separate narcotics case tied to Wedding’s operations and was ambushed while dining in Medellín. The filing alleges Wedding’s group believed eliminating the witness would hobble the U.S. case and derail extradition efforts. Authorities emphasized that the murder investigation remains active, with additional charges possible as evidence is developed and international partners share intelligence gathered from recent arrests.
Authorities have previously linked Wedding to large-scale cocaine shipments routed through Southern California stash houses, with loads eventually moved by semi-truck to destinations in the United States and Canada. Records referenced by investigators describe seizures, cash couriers, and encrypted phones used to coordinate drivers at warehouses near major freeways. People familiar with the Los Angeles corridor say rental boxes and short-term industrial leases helped mask activity. Officials also pointed to prior Canadian court records that documented earlier drug convictions tied to Wedding before he allegedly rose to oversee a wider network.
Prosecutors said the arrests announced Wednesday began before dawn and spanned several jurisdictions. Defendants who were taken into custody are expected to make initial court appearances in the coming days, with detention hearings to follow. Extradition proceedings are underway for those arrested outside the United States. If captured and convicted on the most serious counts, Wedding could face a potential life sentence. Authorities said they will seek detention for defendants deemed flight risks or threats to witnesses, and investigators will continue executing search warrants, financial subpoenas, and mutual legal assistance requests to recover communications and funds.
At the Justice Department news conference, officials described Wedding as a high-priority fugitive whose arrest would immediately curtail funding and influence for the network. Speakers characterized the new reward as an effort to generate credible tips across borders. Agents said recent sanctions and arrests have tightened pressure on associates who may be tempted to cooperate. “We are methodically dismantling the enterprise and identifying everyone who enabled it,” one official said, adding that more details would be released in upcoming court filings. As of Wednesday evening, authorities said Wedding’s exact location was unknown but believed to be outside the United States.
As of late Wednesday, federal officials said the murder investigation continues alongside the trafficking case, with initial court appearances for newly arrested defendants expected within 72 hours and additional disclosures in the California docket later this week. Prosecutors said the reward increase takes effect immediately.
Author note: Last updated November 19, 2025.