Canadian fugitive ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding likely still has ‘network of hitmen,’ prosecutors warn

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is currently on the run from the FBI, accused of running a violent, $1-billion transnational criminal enterprise. While U.S. authorities continue their hunt for Wedding, they are warning the public that he remains a threat and likely still has a team of contract killers at his disposal.

Wedding, along with his top lieutenant Andrew Clark, is accused of orchestrating at least four killings in southern Ontario, including the tragic mistaken-identity shootings of the Sidhu family in November 2023. The Sidhu family, who were visiting from India, were shot in their rented home in Caledon, Ontario, with only their daughter Jaspreet surviving the attack but sustaining life-altering injuries.

U.S. prosecutors have highlighted the sophistication of Wedding’s drug-trafficking organization, which has shown a callous disregard for human life by deploying hitmen to execute perceived rivals or enemies. The criminal network, which allegedly moved 54 tonnes of Colombian cocaine a year through North America, used encrypted means of communication to evade detection.

While Wedding’s second-in-command, Andrew Clark, was arrested in Mexico in October, Wedding remains at large and is believed to be hiding out in Mexico or anywhere in Latin America. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and extradition.

The prosecution’s case against Wedding relies heavily on a co-operating witness who trafficked drugs with Wedding for over a decade and agreed to work with investigators in 2023. Another confidential source infiltrated the criminal network’s encrypted chats and provided evidence to U.S. authorities.

In a twist of fate, the alleged Toronto-based hitman hired by Clark, Malik Damion Cunningham, was in custody for a separate assault and attempted murder at the time of the Sidhu family shooting. While investigators continue to work on identifying the shooter, they have ruled out Cunningham as a potential suspect in the case.

At least 10 Canadians have been arrested or sought by authorities in connection to Wedding’s alleged criminal empire. U.S. prosecutors are seeking to extradite Hardeep Ratte, described as the Canadian transportation chief for Wedding’s drug trafficking network, and three other Canadians detained in Ontario for their roles in the criminal enterprise.

As the manhunt for Ryan Wedding continues, the public is urged to remain vigilant and report any information that may lead to his capture. Wedding’s criminal activities have had devastating consequences, and law enforcement is determined to bring him to justice.