Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
US reporter

Ryan Wedding, alleged drug kingpin and former Olympian, has been arrested and transported to California from Mexico, where he was living in hiding. He is accused of being the head of a vast drug trafficking network and ordering dozens of murders around the world.

Here is what we know:

• Wedding, a snowboarder who represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics, was arrested in Mexico on Thursday night
• He has been the subject of a multinational manhunt and his arrest was a collaborative effort involving Mexican, Canadian, and US law enforcement agencies
• At a news conference, FBI Director Kash Patel described Wedding as "a modern day Pablo Escobar", referring to the notorious Colombian drug lord
• Mike Duheme of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Wedding's capture meant "our communities, our countries are much safer"
• Now in US custody, Wedding will be detained over the weekend and is expected to appear in a federal court on Monday
• That court appearance is expected to be in the United States District Court for the Central District of California where an indictment against Wedding was filed last year

We are ending our live coverage here but you can read more about Ryan Wedding and his arrest after years on the run here: Alleged drug kingpin and ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding arrested after years on the run

Image source, FBI

Before his arrest on Thursday night, Wedding led a colourful and flashy lifestyle while in hiding in Mexico, according to investigators.

In December, Mexican officials seized motorcycles worth $40m (£30m) belonging to Wedding. The two-wheelers were discovered by Mexican authorities over several raids, the FBI said in a statement, adding that the seizures came with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The motorcycles appear to include rare racing models. Before they were seized, a $13m Mercedes hypercar was also impounded.

Read more of our coverage here: Motorcycles worth $40m seized from FBI most-wanted Olympic snowboarder

Image source, FBI

During his remarks, Patel confirmed the arrest and extradition of another man who had been on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.

He only gives his last name - Castillo - and appears to be referencing fugitive Alejandro Castillo, who is now labeled as "captured" on the FBI's list.

Castillo is wanted for the murder of his former girlfriend in 2016, Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le, who he met when they were both working in a North Carolina restaurant.

The FBI says he owed the victim around $1,000 at the time of the murder.

Castillo, who was 17-years-old at the time of the killing, crossed into Mexico two months later. Officials said he was to be considered "armed and extremely dangerous" and had offered a $250,000 award for information leading to his capture.

In a news release from last week, the FBI announced that Castillo had been captured in Hidalgo, Mexico, and would be extradited to North Carolina.

The FBI news conference at the Ontario International Airport in California has now ended after a brief series of questions from journalists.

Stay with us as we bring you more reaction from following the arrest of Ryan James Wedding.

Patel declines to comment on whether anyone will receive the $15m in reward money that the FBI had been offering for information leading to Wedding's arrest.

"We will not comment on anyone regarding the reward," says Patel.

Image source, Reuters

We are hearing now from Mike Duheme, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

He begins by thanking Canadian and US investigators for their roles and praised the multinational collaboration that has led to Wedding's arrest.

"No single agency or nation can combat transnational organised crime alone," he says. "We can finally say that our communities, our countries are much safer with the arrest of Ryan Wedding," he adds.

Akil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, begins by noting that Wedding's arrest was the 500th capture in the history of the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list.

Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the programme, he notes.

He says that Wedding is responsible for moving about 60 metric tonnes of cocaine through California "on its way to Canada".

Davis says that so far, 36 people have been arrested "for their role in this organisation". He adds that the US treasury department has placed sanctions on Wedding and of his 18 associates.

Image source, Reuters

Patel says the FBI also apprehended another high profile suspect while in Mexico.

He did not immediately identify the other person who was arrested and has been brought to the US along with Wedding.

FBI Director Kash Patel is now speaking.

He confirms that Wedding, who he calls "a modern day Pablo Escobar" was arrested in Mexico City.

Patel goes on to thank Mexican authorities for their help in apprehending Wedding on Thursday night.

"When you go after a guy like Ryan Wedding, it takes a united front," Patel says, also thanking Canadian authorities for their help in the investigation.

Image source, Reuters

We are still waiting for an FBI press conference concerning Wedding's arrest in Mexico.

When it does begin, you'll be able to watch live via the link at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Wedding is a former snowboarder who represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics, competing in the Parallel Giant Slalom.

He was born in September 1981 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to a family involved in snow sports. After the Olympics, he studied briefly at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

In 2009, Wedding was convicted in federal court in California after being charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He served time in prison and was released in December 2011.

Canadian and US officials have accused Wedding of still being involved in drug trafficking and say he has evaded arrest for many years.

The FBI alleges that he has ordered dozens of murders across the globe, including in the US, Canada and Latin America.

In his social media post announcing Wedding's arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said Mexico's co-operation was essential.

"This operation is the result of tremendous cooperation and team work with the Government of Mexico. Special thanks to our amazing partners in Mexico who facilitated this - President Sheinbaum, Secretary Harfuch, Ambassador Ron Johnson, Legat Mexico, and more," he said.

US officials had previously said they believed Wedding was living in Mexico as of 2025.

We're expecting ot hear more details about this at the upcoming presser. It was scheduled to start about 30 minutes ago, but we are still waiting.

Stick with us.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed that Ryan Wedding was flown to the US from Mexico after his arrest.

In a post on X, she wrote that at her direction, FBI agents apprehended Wedding, "the onetime Olympian snowboarder-turned alleged violent cocaine kingpin".

"Wedding was flown to the United States where he will face justice. This is a direct result of President Trump’s law-and-order leadership," she continued.

Bondi further credited FBI Director Kash Patel, Ambassador Ron Johnson, and the Mexican authorities for assisting in this case."

Ryan Wedding is accused of running a vast drug trafficking operation responsible for importing some 60 metric tons of cocaine a year into Los Angeles, Attorney General Pam Bondi previously said.

The organisation operated across North America and other countries and was also the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada, bringing in an estimated $1bn a year.

Before he was arrested, Wedding was accused of killing a federal witness in a case against him.

Wedding has been charged with witness tampering and intimidation, murder, money laundering and drug trafficking.

Image source, Getty Images

We're waiting for a press conference to begin where officials are scheduled to update the public on the arrest of Wedding.

You'll be able to watch live through the link at the top of the page.

Ryan Wedding, the Canadian snowboarder and alleged drug smuggler, has been taken into custody.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the news in a post on X.

He wrote: "Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and commitment to global law enforcement - as of this morning, the DOJ/FBI officially apprehended our SIXTH Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive within the last year.

"Thank you to @AGPamBondi for her relentless pursuit of justice, the US Attorney’s Office in L.A., and FBI Los Angeles. Ryan James Wedding was taken into custody in Mexico last night. He is being transported from Mexico to the U.S. via FBI FTOC to face justice.

"Wedding is believed to have been hiding in Mexico for over a decade - and has been wanted on charges for cocaine trafficking and murder since 2024."

Stick with us, and we'll bring you more details.