Wedding represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, located in Utah, United States and according to the State Department of that country, after his sports career, he dedicated himself to transnational drug trafficking, to the point of becoming key in the money laundering of the Sinaloa Cartel.
In a joint statement issued by the Mexican Security agencies, it was detailed that the operation carried out on Thursday consisted of four searches in homes in Mexico City and the State of Mexico authorized by a control judge.
⚠️ Help us find it ⚠️
The FBI is looking for Ryan James Wedding, former Olympic athlete and ally of a cartel 🇲🇽.
It is believed to be hidden in Mexico. There is up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. If you have seen it, 📞 call 55-25-79-20-00. pic.twitter.com/neYpAriAYJ— US Embassy in Mexico (@USEmbassyMEX)
December 10, 2025
The operation, it was said, is part of bilateral cooperation to detain people required by authorities from other countries.
Doses of methamphetamine and marijuana, 62 high-end motorcycles, two vehicles, works of art, two Olympic medals, cartridges, a charger and documentation were found in the homes.
The properties were sealed and under the protection of the authorities, while the insured assets were placed at the disposal of the agent of the Public Ministry.
Agents from the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), the Secretariats of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Navy (Semar), the National Defense (Defensa) and the National Guard (GN) participated in the operations.
Just last December 8, that is, 18 days before the operation, the United States embassy in Mexico broadcast a video on its social networks in which it reported that the FBI was looking for Wedding, who “leads a violent organization dedicated to cocaine trafficking.”
In the recording, the US embassy, headed by Ronald Johnson, indicated that James Wedding is “one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals.
“There is a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. Your complaint can make a difference, if you have information about James, contact the United States embassy,” it was mentioned in the video.
The former athlete, it is believed, “is hiding in Mexico,” according to the message in which the sum of money was offered for information that would allow him to be arrested.
That reward increased from 10 to 15 million dollars on November 19 in which the US government imposed financial sanctions on him and eight other people and nine related companies.
