Ex-Olympic Snowboarder Accused of Murdering Witness in Drug Trafficking Case
US authorities have charged Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned drug kingpin, with the murder of a key witness prepared to testify against him. The indictment, recently unsealed, accuses Wedding of orchestrating the killing of a witness in Colombia before the individual could provide evidence in court.
Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that Wedding, known by aliases such as “El Jefe” and “Public Enemy,” led a vast drug trafficking network. The organization allegedly transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and southern California, before reaching Canada. Bondi described this network as “one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations” globally.
Alleged Co-Conspirators and Arrests
Authorities also apprehended Deepak Paradkar, an Ontario lawyer accused of advising Wedding to eliminate FBI witness Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia. Acebedo-Garcia, a Canadian citizen, was fatally shot in a Medellín restaurant in January. Paradkar reportedly told Wedding, “If you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed,” according to Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney in California.
Additionally, Canadian police have arrested Atna Onha, a Montreal man, charging him with conspiracy to murder Acebedo-Garcia, a former affiliate of Wedding’s network. Altogether, a dozen people, including seven Canadians, have been named in a coordinated international operation aimed at dismantling Wedding’s organization.
Background and Ongoing Investigation
Wedding, 43, grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and competed for Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, finishing 24th in parallel giant slalom. Several years post-Olympics, authorities linked him to a marijuana operation, though he was not charged at that time.
In 2010, Wedding was convicted of drug trafficking after attempting to buy cocaine from a US government agent and served four years in prison. Despite trying to challenge his conviction by alleging misconduct by authorities, he later became a dominant figure in global narcotics trafficking.
RCMP commissioner Mike Duhame highlighted that Wedding’s criminal enterprise likely generates over $1 billion annually. The FBI director, Kash Patel, compared Wedding to notorious drug lords like Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzmán.
US Treasury Sanctions
The US Treasury Department simultaneously announced sanctions against Wedding and nine others linked to his drug trafficking network. The State Department also increased its reward for Wedding’s capture and conviction from $10 million to $15 million, underscoring the international priority in apprehending him.
This case exemplifies the complex interplay between international law enforcement agencies tackling transnational organized crime linked to former sports figures turned major criminals.
Read more at: www.theguardian.com
