RCMP Warned in Advance About Ryan Wedding’s Imminent Arrest, Commissioner Says

Canadian and U.S. law enforcement had advance notice of the intended arrest of Ryan Wedding, a long-time fugitive wanted on multiple serious charges, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) commissioner told us. According to Commissioner Mike Duheme, U.S. authorities alerted RCMP days before Wedding was taken into custody in Mexico, providing the clearest indication yet that investigators knew his general whereabouts prior to the operation that led to his capture on Jan. 22.

Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged narcotics kingpin, had been on the run for more than a decade and was sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Canadian police for involvement in a transnational drug trafficking network and violent crimes. He was widely considered one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives before his arrest in Mexico after what authorities described as a “voluntary surrender,” though some defence lawyers disputed that account.

The RCMP’s prior notification from U.S. partners underscores the level of international cooperation in the multi-agency investigation that had targeted Wedding. The fugitive had evaded law enforcement while allegedly heading a sophisticated criminal organisation accused of trafficking cocaine across the Americas and being involved in multiple murders. Wedding had been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2025, with a reward offered for information leading to his arrest.

Canadian authorities have previously confirmed that charges in Canada remain outstanding, including conspiracy to import and traffic cocaine — offences linked to his operations both north and south of the border. The involvement of the RCMP in the recent arrest operation highlights sustained collaboration with U.S. federal agencies and Mexican officials throughout the long-running investigation.

The advance warning from the U.S. also reflects procedural norms in transnational fugitive cases, where sharing information ahead of enforcement actions can be essential for coordinated responses and legal due process across jurisdictions. Still, the revelation comes amid heightened public and media interest in how such a high-profile fugitive — a former Olympic athlete turned alleged crime boss — managed to evade capture for so long before his eventual arrest in Mexico.

Wedding is expected to face both U.S. and Canadian proceedings as authorities work through complex extradition and prosecution arrangements. The sprawling case has drawn attention from law enforcement partners on multiple continents and continues to unfold amid ongoing legal and investigative developments.