The FBI has intensified its search for fugitive former Olympian Ryan Wedding. The Los Angeles field office released a new photograph of the wanted man. This development escalates a controversy that shocked the winter sports industry. The U.S. government compares his alleged criminal empire to those of Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzmán.
The new image is believed to have been taken in Mexico this past summer. It shows Wedding lying down and shirtless. A prominent lion tattoo is clearly visible on his chest. His overall appearance remains similar to earlier wanted posters. However, the photo highlights minor changes he may use to evade authorities. Officials still consider him relatively easy to identify.
The FBI first added Wedding to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2025. Authorities warned he could alter his hair colour and appearance. They believe he is hiding under the protection of Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel.
The manhunt for Olympian Ryan Wedding rages on, and now the FBI has released a new image of the snowboarder-turned-alleged international drug trafficker.
Take a look: https://t.co/hasEl68iEf pic.twitter.com/R2MiEuOOcb
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 10, 2025U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the alleged operation’s scale. She called it “one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organisations in the world.” Authorities claim Wedding is Canada’s biggest cocaine distributor.
His alleged network moves hundreds of kilograms of cocaine annually. The route runs from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California. The final destination is North American markets. This enterprise reportedly generates over $1 billion in illegal proceeds each year.
FBI Releases New Photo Of Olympic Snowboarder Turned Drug Kingpin Ryan Wedding A Month After Offering $15 MILLION For His Capture https://t.co/73J39VZgfB pic.twitter.com/3ow8mdayVB
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 11, 2025The charges against Wedding go beyond drug trafficking and include allegations that he ordered multiple murders to protect his organisation. He allegedly targeted a federal witness who was scheduled to testify against him, and that witness was shot and killed in a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.
Read: US Offers $10M Reward for Olympian Ryan Wedding in Drug Ring Bust
The United States has issued a massive $15 million reward for information. This bounty leads directly to Wedding’s arrest or conviction. It is currently the highest non-terrorist reward on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. The former athlete competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics before his alleged criminal turn.
