In a shocking turn of events, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, Ryan James Wedding, has found himself on the FBI's list of 10 Most Wanted Fugitives. U.S. authorities are offering a staggering $10 million reward for information leading to his capture due to his alleged role as a major drug kingpin.

At 43 years old, Wedding is suspected of operating a sophisticated transnational drug-trafficking network that reportedly transports cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico, and into both the United States and Canada. The FBI is alleging that Wedding has not only engaged in drug distribution but has also orchestrated a series of brutal murders to protect his criminal enterprise.

"Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada," stated Akil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, adding that the alleged homicides give testament to Wedding's dangerous nature.

Standing over six feet tall, Wedding is known by a staggering 18 different nicknames, including "El Jefe," "Giant," and "Public Enemy." His reach in the drug underworld appears to be extensive, with fellow Canadian Andrew Clark, 34, also implicated. Clark, often called "The Dictator," is believed to have assisted Wedding in coordinating their operations from Mexico. U.S. officials report that Wedding is under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, previously led by drug lord El Chapo Guzman.

In a recent development, Clark was apprehended in Mexico last October and was extradited to the United States just last week, while Wedding remains a fugitive. Investigators in Canada have traced Wedding's organization to a series of violent incidents, including residential shootings and homicides in Ontario.

One particularly harrowing incident involved the brutal killings of Jagtar Sidhu and his wife, Harbhajan Sidhu, in their Caledon, Ontario home on November 20, 2023. Allegedly ordered by Wedding and Clark, the attack was meant to address a stolen drug shipment, but tragically resulted in the deaths of innocent victims, with their daughter surviving after sustaining 13 gunshot wounds.

Additionally, Wedding is implicated in the murder of 39-year-old Mohammed Zafar, shot in Brampton over a drug debt, and is linked to the execution-style killing of 29-year-old Randy Fader in Niagara Falls. Both killings highlight the violent lengths Wedding and his associates will go to secure their drug operations.

Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wedding began his athletic journey in snowboarding, earning a spot in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games where he finished 24th in the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom. Now, he represents a stark contrast to the Olympic dreams of many, as he stands as a symbol of a life gone astray, embroiled in crime and violence.

As authorities intensify their manhunt for Wedding, this story serves as a stark reminder of how far individuals can fall from grace, transitioning from celebrated athletes to dangerous fugitives. With the $10 million bounty on his head, the race to bring Ryan James Wedding to justice is underway.