Ryan Wedding Arrest: FBI Press Conference on Former Olympian's Drug Trafficking and Murder Charges

Capture of a High-Value Fugitive

• 🎯 Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, has been apprehended by the FBI on charges of drug trafficking and murder.
• 🚀 This capture marks the sixth top 10 FBI fugitive taken into custody in a single year, a notable increase compared to previous administrations.
• 🤝 The operation was a result of strong inter-agency and international partnerships, including collaboration with Mexican authorities.

Scope of Criminal Activities

• ❄️ Wedding transitioned from an Olympic athlete to a major narco-trafficker, described as a modern-day El Chapo or Pablo Escobar.
• 📈 His organization, in conjunction with the Sinaloa Cartel, is accused of trafficking hundreds of kilos of cocaine and methamphetamine into North America, contributing to the deaths of youth.
• 🔪 Wedding is also wanted for orchestrating multiple murders, including those of government witnesses.

International Cooperation and Seizures

• 🤝 The successful apprehension in Mexico City was a joint effort involving the FBI, Mexican government, RCMP, DEA, CBP, and the US Department of Justice.
• 💰 Significant assets were seized, including a Mercedes-Benz valued at over $15 million, dozens of motorcycles worth approximately $40 million, and substantial amounts of cash, drugs, and weapons.
• ⚖️ The investigation has led to 36 arrests within Wedding's organization, with sanctions imposed on 19 individuals, including Wedding himself.

FBI's Record-Breaking Year

• 📊 The FBI has reported historic numbers in 2025, including 67,000 arrests (a 200% increase) and the seizure of enough fentanyl to kill 150 million Americans.
• 🧒 The agency has also identified 6,000 missing children, an increase of 22%.
• 📉 These efforts are credited with contributing to an all-time record 20% decline in the murder rate in the United States.

Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal

• 🔍 While Wedding is in custody, the investigation is ongoing, with multiple individuals still wanted for their roles in the organization.
• 💰 A $2 million reward is still being offered by the State Department for information leading to further arrests.
• 📞 Information can be provided via phone or encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram at 424494614.