{"id":887470,"date":"2026-01-24T22:11:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T04:11:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/24\/fbi-arrests-former-olympic-snowboarder-and-top-cocaine-trafficker-in-crypto-linked-case\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T22:11:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T04:11:58","slug":"fbi-arrests-former-olympic-snowboarder-and-top-cocaine-trafficker-in-crypto-linked-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/24\/fbi-arrests-former-olympic-snowboarder-and-top-cocaine-trafficker-in-crypto-linked-case\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI Arrests Former Olympic Snowboarder and Top Cocaine Trafficker in Crypto-Linked Case"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/23090551\/ayan-150x150.jpg\" alt>\n                    <\/p>\n<p>Crypto Journalist<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Amin Ayan<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/23090551\/ayan-150x150.jpg\" alt>\n                <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Crypto Journalist<\/p>\n<p><span>Amin Ayan<\/span><span class><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cryptonews\/images\/verification.svg\" alt=\"Verified\"><\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Part of the Team Since<\/p>\n<p>Apr 2025<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>About Author<\/p>\n<p>Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24\/7 Wall St. He has&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Last updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-01-24T07:32:17+00:00\">January 24, 2026<\/time>\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/24072827\/1769239707-image-1769239676848_optimized.jpg\" alt=\"FBI Arrests Former Olympic Snowboarder and Top Cocaine Trafficker in Crypto-Linked Case\" decoding=\"async\"  ><\/p>\n<p>US authorities have arrested former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, ending a years-long international manhunt for a figure investigators describe as a major cocaine trafficker who relied on cryptocurrency to move and conceal illicit profits.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Former Olympian Ryan Wedding was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the US after years on the FBI\u2019s Most Wanted list.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Authorities allege he ran a cartel-linked cocaine network and used crypto to launder proceeds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>US officials say the operation generated over $1 billion annually and spanned multiple countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Wedding, 44, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGPamBondi\/status\/2014726070914736422\" target=\"_blank\">was taken into custody in Mexico<\/a> late Thursday and transferred to the United States on Friday, according to US officials.<\/p>\n<p>The former athlete, who competed for Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, had been listed among the FBI\u2019s Ten Most Wanted fugitives, with a reward of up to $15 million offered for information leading to his capture.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"h-former-olympic-snowboarder-faces-us-charges-in-global-drug-case\">Former Olympic Snowboarder Faces US Charges in Global Drug Case<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wedding, whom she described as a \u201conetime Olympian snowboarder-turned alleged violent cocaine kingpin,\u201d will face federal charges in the US related to drug trafficking, murder, and operating a criminal enterprise spanning multiple countries.<\/p>\n<p>FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest in a post on X, crediting cooperation with Mexican authorities for locating Wedding after more than a decade on the run.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<blockquote data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>UPDATE: After landing in LA today to transfer Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Ryan Wedding, our FBI\/DOJ teams are now landing in Charlotte, NC to transfer another \u2013 Alejandro Castillo \u2013 the Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive arrested one week ago today in Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>Castillo\u2019s quick return\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wsrS3eWa2k\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/wsrS3eWa2k<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FBIDirectorKash\/status\/2014815908024484150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">January 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Investigators allege that Wedding played a senior role in cocaine distribution networks tied to Mexico\u2019s Sinaloa Cartel, overseeing shipments from Colombia into the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n<p>According to US officials, the operation generated more than $1 billion annually in illegal proceeds at its peak.<\/p>\n<p>The US Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Wedding in November, accusing his organization of using cryptocurrency to move and launder drug profits.<\/p>\n<p>In its notice, the Treasury said digital assets were used to obscure the flow of funds and conceal large sums derived from narcotics trafficking.<\/p>\n<p>Mexico\u2019s Security Secretary Omar Garc\u00eda Harfuch said Wedding voluntarily surrendered at the U.S. Embassy before being handed over to the FBI.<\/p>\n<p>Patel later told reporters that Wedding had been hiding in Mexico for over 10 years and was believed to be under cartel protection.<\/p>\n<p>Wedding arrived Friday at Ontario International Airport in Southern California, where federal officials held a press conference following his transfer.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities said they seized firearms, luxury vehicles, artwork, and other assets connected to the alleged criminal enterprise, and indicated further arrests may follow as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"h-ryan-wedding-s-earlier-cocaine-case-predates-latest-us-charges\">Ryan Wedding\u2019s Earlier Cocaine Case Predates Latest US Charges<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is not Wedding\u2019s first encounter with US law enforcement. In 2008, he was arrested in California in a cocaine trafficking sting involving a Vancouver-based operation.<\/p>\n<p>He was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to four years in prison, before being released around 2011.<\/p>\n<p>The arrest comes as crypto-related crime remains a growing concern. According to Chainalysis, illicit cryptocurrency addresses <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/crypto-scammers-use-ai-and-professional-networks-to-rake-in-billions-chainalysis-report\/\">received a record $154 billion in 2025<\/a>, a sharp increase from the year before.<\/p>\n<p>In another case, US prosecutors <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/brooklyn-man-charged-with-stealing-16m-in-crypto-from-100-coinbase-users\/\">have charged a 23-year-old Brooklyn resident<\/a>, Ronald Spektor, with stealing roughly $16 million in cryptocurrency from around 100 Coinbase users through an alleged phishing and social engineering scheme.<\/p>\n<p>\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKQgKIiNDQklTRkFnTWFoQUtEbU55ZVhCMGIyNWxkM011WTI5dEtBQVAB?ceid=US:en&#038;oc=3\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <svg width=\"20\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" fill=\"none\">\n                            <path d=\"M19.6 5.36C19.6 5.48 19.6 5.66 19.54 5.78L17.2 12.8V5.6C17.2 4.94 16.66 4.4 16 4.4H12.82L12.52 3.8L11.86 2.36L15.34 3.32L18.58 4.16C19.18 4.28 19.6 4.82 19.6 5.36Z\" fill=\"#FF4131\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M15.4 0.799997V3.26L11.92 2.3L11.74 1.88C11.44 1.28 10.72 0.979997 10.12 1.22L4.59998 3.38V0.799997C4.59998 0.499997 4.89998 0.199997 5.19998 0.199997H14.8C15.1 0.199997 15.4 0.499997 15.4 0.799997Z\" fill=\"#03A846\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M12.82 4.4H4.00002C3.34002 4.4 2.80002 4.94 2.80002 5.6V11.42L0.520024 6.5C0.460024 6.26 0.400024 6.08 0.400024 5.9V5.84C0.400024 5.3 0.700024 4.82 1.24002 4.64L4.60002 3.32L10.06 1.22C10.72 0.979997 11.44 1.28 11.68 1.88L11.86 2.3L12.52 3.74L12.82 4.4Z\" fill=\"#FDBD04\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M17.2 5.59999V14.6C17.2 15.26 16.66 15.8 16 15.8H4.00005C3.34005 15.8 2.80005 15.26 2.80005 14.6V5.59999C2.80005 4.93999 3.34005 4.39999 4.00005 4.39999H16C16.66 4.39999 17.2 4.93999 17.2 5.59999ZM9.40005 9.79999H7.00005V11H7.90005C7.60005 11.36 7.18005 11.6 6.70005 11.6C5.86005 11.6 5.20005 10.94 5.20005 10.1C5.20005 9.25999 5.86005 8.59999 6.70005 8.59999C7.12005 8.59999 7.48005 8.77999 7.78005 9.01999L8.62005 8.17999C8.14005 7.69999 7.48005 7.39999 6.70005 7.39999C5.20005 7.39999 4.00005 8.59999 4.00005 10.1C4.00005 11.6 5.20005 12.8 6.70005 12.8C7.90005 12.8 8.86005 12.08 9.22005 11C9.34005 10.7 9.40005 10.4 9.40005 10.1C9.40005 9.97999 9.40005 9.91999 9.40005 9.79999ZM14.8 7.39999H10.6V8.59999H14.8V7.39999ZM16 9.79999H10.6V11H16V9.79999ZM14.8 12.2H10.6V13.4H14.8V12.2Z\" fill=\"#0284FE\" \/>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n                                                                    Follow us on Google News                                    <\/a>\n                                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/fbi-arrests-former-olympic-snowboarder-and-top-cocaine-trafficker-in-crypto-linked-case\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Margarete Fetzer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Crypto Journalist Amin Ayan Crypto Journalist Amin Ayan Part of the Team Since Apr 2025 About Author Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24\/7 Wall St. He has&#8230; Last updated:\u00a0 January 24, 2026 US<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":887471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26031,148],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-887470","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arrests","8":"category-former"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=887470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887470\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/887471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=887470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=887470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=887470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}