Former Olympian Arrested in Crypto-Linked Drug Trafficking Case
US authorities have apprehended Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged international drug kingpin, following a years-long manhunt. The 44-year-old, who competed at the 2002 Winter Games, was extradited from Mexico to face charges including narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and operating a transnational criminal enterprise.
Investigators allege Wedding's organization moved over $1 billion annually in cocaine profits using cryptocurrency to obscure transactions. His arrest marks the culmination of an FBI investigation that spanned multiple countries and involved coordination with Mexican law enforcement.
The case underscores growing regulatory scrutiny of crypto's role in high-value illicit finance. Wedding had been featured on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list with a $15 million bounty before his capture.
