Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Former Olympian Ryan Wedding Faces Drug and Murder Charges

1/28/2026

43 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, pleaded not guilty to federal drug and murder charges.
He was captured in Mexico and indicted in 2024 for moving 60 tons of cocaine under the Sinaloa Cartel's protection.
The charges include the 2023 killings of two Canadians and the murder of a federal witness in Colombia.
The trial is set for March 24.
The defense says Wedding was arrested.

History

Historical Context

The Mexican government's war on drugs intensified in 2006 under President Felipe Calderón, marking a significant escalation in violence and cartel activity. The Sinaloa Cartel emerged as a dominant force, controlling over 25% of cocaine entering the U.S. Recent events, including Ryan Wedding's indictment for trafficking 60 tons of cocaine, underscore the ongoing challenges of organized crime and drug violence in North America.

1 of 2

Story summary

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, pleaded not guilty to federal drug and murder charges.
He was captured in Mexico and indicted in 2024 for moving 60 tons of cocaine under the Sinaloa Cartel's protection.
The charges include the 2023 killings of two Canadians and the murder of a federal witness in Colombia.
The trial is set for March 24.
The defense says Wedding was arrested.

1 / 2