Former Coquitlam resident and Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding is facing new drug trafficking charges after police in Nova Scotia busted an international drug trafficking ring with ties to Colombian and Mexican drug cartels.
The two-year investigation involved numerous national and international police agencies after the RCMP Federal Serious & Organized Crime Unit in the spring of 2013 uncovered eight conspiracies to import cocaine into Canada from countries including Antigua, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and the U.S.
There were another four investigations into cocaine trafficking and one into trafficking in firearms.
Nova Scotia RCMP released information last week that they had made several arrests connected to the case; 15 people are now facing 45 criminal charges. As well, police seized vehicles, guns, drug paraphernalia, cash and more than 200 kg of cocaine.
"These arrests represent a milestone in our fight against transnational crime in Canada," said Deputy Commissioner Mike Cabana, Federal Policing, in a release. "By capitalizing on major investigations such as this one, we aim to make it increasingly difficult for criminals to make crime profitable."
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 33-year-old Wedding, who has been living in Montreal. He's facing two counts each of conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to traffic and trafficking in cocaine.
Wedding was arrested in June 2008 in San Diego along with fellow Canadians Michael Krapchan and Hassan Shirani in connection with an FBI investigation into the money laundering and drug distribution ring of Krapchan and Elmar Akhundov, which later came to include their drug trafficking associates Wedding and Shirani.
Taped conversations revealed Wedding, Shirani and Krapchan were planning to buy 24 kg (53 pounds) of cocaine for $100,000 from an undercover operator. After the trio's arrests FBI agents searched Wedding's hotel room and found $100,000 in U.S. cash hidden in a piece of furniture.
Wedding was convicted in December 2009 in California on charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine; he was sentenced to six years in prison after agreeing to forfeit about $120,000 discovered by the FBI.
In 2002 Wedding placed 24th in the parallel giant slalom competition at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. At his jury trial Wedding said he was an athlete in training for the 2010 Olympics.
@spayneTC
