The gang reportedly employed hitmen to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to their operations, using violence as a method of intimidation.

The operation, dubbed 'Giant Slalom,' involved collaboration between the RCMP and the FBI, resulting in 16 indictments, including 10 Canadians.

Andrew Clark, another suspect connected to Wedding's drug operation, was arrested by Mexican authorities, while Wedding remains at large.

Wedding has a criminal history dating back to 2010, when he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and sentenced to four years in prison.

Federal prosecutor Martin Estrada described Wedding's transformation from an Olympic athlete to a ruthless drug lord, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges against him.

Despite his past as an Olympic competitor, Wedding is now implicated in a violent and extensive drug trafficking operation that poses a significant threat across multiple countries.

Ryan James Wedding, a 43-year-old former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is currently a wanted criminal by the FBI, facing serious charges including leading a drug trafficking ring and multiple murders.

U.S. authorities are determined to dismantle this criminal enterprise, which has been linked to multiple murders and violent intimidation tactics.

Wedding is accused of orchestrating at least four murders as part of his criminal activities, including the killing of a Canadian couple in front of their daughter.

In a particularly tragic incident, Wedding's group mistakenly killed two family members in Canada due to a belief that they were involved in a stolen drug shipment.

The charges against Wedding and 15 others were announced following an extensive investigation that revealed their operation shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Canada via Mexico and Southern California.

Authorities allege that Wedding's organization transported approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually, generating billions of dollars in profits.