UPDATE: Authorities in Mexico have launched urgent raids targeting Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, listed among the FBI’s most-wanted fugitives. The raids, conducted on Christmas Day, uncovered a staggering cache of drugs, Olympic medals, ammunition, and 62 high-end motorcycles linked to the alleged drug kingpin.
Officials confirmed they executed multiple operations across four locations in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, seizing methamphetamine, marijuana, and documents believed to connect Wedding to a billion-dollar drug trafficking network. Although authorities did not explicitly name Wedding, he is the only Olympic athlete on the FBI’s wanted list, making this a significant development in the ongoing manhunt.
Wedding, now 44 years old, represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics, finishing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom. He has not won any Olympic medals, raising questions about the origins of the medals seized during the raids. As of March 2023, he was added to the FBI’s most-wanted list for allegedly masterminding a vast drug operation that smuggles approximately 60 metric tonnes of cocaine annually from Mexico into Canada via California.
“This operation underscores our commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and bringing wanted fugitives to justice,”
stated an official from the Mexican government, highlighting the serious implications of Wedding’s alleged activities on public safety and international crime.
The latest raids come as part of an intensified effort by authorities to apprehend Wedding, who is accused of leading a violent organization involved in mass drug smuggling and contract killings. The discovery of drugs, weapons, and luxury vehicles suggests a substantial operational capacity, raising alarms about the scale of his criminal enterprise.
As the investigation progresses, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings or information regarding Wedding’s whereabouts. The urgency to capture him is paramount, given the potential threats posed by his network.
Stay tuned for further updates as details of this developing story continue to unfold.
