In a recent move, the U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, accusing him of orchestrating a violent international cocaine trafficking operation. The department alleges that Wedding has been involved in ordering multiple murders across various nations while operating from a safe haven in Mexico.
Wedding, who is 44 years old, has found a place on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The Treasury Department’s report contends that he is accountable for the deaths of several individuals, including American citizens. Wedding is suspected of managing an extensive cocaine distribution network.
On Wednesday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions not only against Wedding but also against nine of his associates and nine affiliated businesses. This move is part of a broader effort to dismantle what authorities describe as a major drug trafficking network.
The operation purportedly traffics large quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Mexico, distributing it across the United States and Canada. The illicit profits are reportedly laundered through high-end business ventures.
John K. Hurley, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized the significance of these sanctions: “Today we’re exposing the network of associates and enablers behind Ryan Wedding — one of the most notorious criminals and narcotraffickers still evading justice,” he stated. Hurley added, “Our goal is simple: make it difficult for criminals like this to profit from poisoning our communities.” This action underscores the ongoing efforts to curb the impact of international drug trafficking operations.
“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.
