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The U.S. Treasury Department has put the spotlight on Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, by blacklisting him for allegedly leading a violent international cocaine trafficking network and orchestrating several murders.
In a recent announcement from Washington, authorities claimed that Wedding, now 44, is hiding out in Mexico while controlling a sprawling drug operation. The Treasury Department’s report also places him on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, holding him accountable for the deaths of multiple individuals, including American citizens.
On Wednesday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control took further action by sanctioning nine of Wedding’s associates along with nine businesses linked to him.
This crackdown aims at dismantling a syndicate accused of transporting massive quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Mexico into the U.S. and Canada. Allegedly, the network also launders its substantial profits through high-end businesses.
The action targets what officials describe as a network that moves multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Mexico to be distributed in the United States and Canada. The ring then launders the profits through luxury businesses.
“Today we’re exposing the network of associates and enablers behind Ryan Wedding — one of the most notorious criminals and narcotraffickers still evading justice,” Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley said in a statement. “Our goal is simple: make it difficult for criminals like this to profit from poisoning our communities.”
Treasury officials said Wedding has ordered dozens of murders around the world and uses “sophisticated methods” to locate and kill rivals and other witnesses.
Among those sanctioned are:
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Edgar Aaron Vazquez Alvarado, known as “the General,” a former Mexican law enforcement officer accused of protecting Wedding in Mexico and helping locate targets
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Wedding’s wife, Miryam Andrea Castillo Moreno, who allegedly launders drug money and assists in acts of violence.
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Colombian national Carmen Yelinet Valoyes Florez, accused of helping arrange the January 2025 murder of a federal witness.
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Canadian attorney Deepak Balwant Paradkar, accused of arranging drug contacts, bribery and helping Wedding spy on other clients he allegedly wanted to kill.
The Treasury also sanctioned alleged money launderers in Canada, Italy and the U.K., as well as several companies, including a Toronto jewelry business, fuel companies in Mexico and expensive motorcycle and car dealers in Europe.
As a result of the sanctions, any assets the included people or entities own in the United States are frozen, and U.S. individuals and companies are now generally banned from doing business with them.
The State Department has also raised its reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest or conviction to up to $15 million. The award is up $5 million from March.
Authorities say Wedding is believed to be living in Mexico and may be working with the Sinaloa cartel. Among his aliases, according to the FBI, are “El Jefe,” “Public Enemy,” and “James Conrad King.”
Wedding finished 24th in parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Olympics.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.