Front Burner The hunt for alleged cocaine kingpin Ryan Wedding
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Nov 24, 2025 Join Calvi Leon, a Toronto Star reporter who has closely tracked the chilling case of Ryan Wedding, a former Olympian turned alleged drug kingpin. Discover the latest explosive allegations linking Wedding to multiple murders and international drug operations. Leon dives into Wedding’s background, his early criminal exploits, and his mysterious disappearance post-deportation. With insights on arrests, cartel ties, and even a hitman captured via encrypted chats, this discussion reveals the dark saga of a fugitive on the FBI’s most wanted list.
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From Olympian To Convicted Trafficker
- Ryan Wedding was once an Olympic snowboarder who later faced drug charges and claimed his actions were out of character.
- He served time in U.S. prisons, was portrayed as remorseful at trial, and received a reduced four-year sentence.
Prisons As Criminal Networking Hubs
- Prison time in U.S. facilities acted as a networking hub for international traffickers and helped Wedding build contacts.
- Authorities say those connections later aided a far larger drug operation spanning multiple countries.
Operation Harrington And The Escape
- Operation Harrington linked Wedding to a conspiracy smuggling tons of cocaine worth hundreds of millions.
- When RCMP moved to arrest him in Montreal he had already fled and has been on the run since 2015.