Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder sought in connection with Ontario double homicide for drug-related activities

October 17, 2024 TruthUSA

A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking operation is wanted in connection with a double homicide in Ontario last year, according to law enforcement officials.

Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and Canadian Andrew Clark, are accused of orchestrating the murders of two family members in Caledon, Ont., in November of last year as retaliation for a stolen drug shipment, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice at an Oct. 17 press conference.

These men, who currently reside in Mexico, are among 16 defendants named in a superseding indictment that alleges their involvement in a transnational drug trafficking operation that regularly transported large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Canada.

According to United States Attorney Martin Estrada, the drugs were moved through Mexico and Southern California to reach both the U.S. and Canada.

Clark, aged 34, was apprehended by Mexican law enforcement on Oct. 8, while Wedding, aged 43, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. He is currently wanted by the FBI.

Estrada stated, “As alleged in the indictment, an Olympic athlete-turned-drug lord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime group involved in cocaine trafficking and murder, including innocent civilians.”

Wedding and Clark are also accused of ordering the murder of another victim in May over an unpaid drug debt. The location of the homicide was not disclosed by authorities. Charges have been filed against Clark and another individual, 23-year-old Canadian Malik Damion Cunningham, in connection with a murder that occurred on April 1 in Mississauga.

Wedding, identified as the main defendant in the indictment, is known by aliases such as “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy,” according to a press release from the district attorney’s office. He is wanted on multiple charges, including three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with an ongoing criminal enterprise and drug activity.

Clark, also known as “The Dictator,” faces the same charges as well as an additional murder charge, as stated by authorities.

The indictment alleges that Wedding, Clark, and others conspired to transport large quantities of cocaine from Southern California to Canada through a drug transportation network based in Canada.

The Canadian network was reportedly overseen by two Ontario men between January and August of this year. Hardeep Ratte, aged 45, and Gurpreet Singh, aged 30, have both been arrested in connection with the drug shipments.

According to the indictment, the cocaine was moved from Mexico to Los Angeles, where it was stored in stash houses by the organization’s operatives. Subsequently, the drugs were transported to Canada by couriers using long-haul semi-trucks.

The indictment added, “The organization resorted to violence—including multiple murders—to achieve its aims.”

More to come…

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