FBI Arrests Former Olympic Snowboarder Ryan Wedding in Mexico for Drug Trafficking and Murder

Capture of Fugitive Ryan Wedding

• 🎯 Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, has been arrested in Mexico by the FBI.
• ⚡ This capture marks the 500th apprehension of an FBI top 10 fugitive since the program's inception 75 years ago.
• ⚖️ Wedding is wanted for his alleged roles in a transnational organized crime network involved in shipping cocaine into the United States and orchestrating multiple murders.

Investigation and International Cooperation

• 🌍 The FBI, along with partners from the RCMP, LAPD, DEA, and agencies in Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, worked tirelessly for over a year to locate Wedding.
• 💰 The investigation involved state department rewards and Treasury Department sanctions, including crushing sanctions imposed on 19 individuals, including Wedding.
• 🚔 The FBI's Los Angeles field office led the effort, highlighting the long reach of law enforcement beyond U.S. borders.

Seized Assets and Ongoing Efforts

• 📦 Investigators have arrested 36 people connected to the organization and seized a significant amount of drugs, cash, weapons, a Mercedes-Benz valued at over $15 million, and dozens of motorcycles worth approximately $40 million.
• 🖼️ Additional valuable artwork and jewelry were also confiscated.
• 📞 The FBI is still seeking multiple individuals and is offering a $2 million reward for information leading to further arrests.
• 🗓️ Ryan Wedding is being held in custody and is expected to have his initial court appearance on Monday morning.