Cocaine, cryptocurrency and USDT: Olympic champion Ryan Wedding arrested by the FBI in Mexico

Descent into hell. On Friday, January 23, 2026, the FBI announced the arrest of Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who has become one of the world’s most wanted fugitives. Wedding, accused of running a cocaine-trafficking empire, which was supported by cryptocurrency was detained in Mexico after more than a year of intense pursuit. He is currently being extradited to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking and murder.

Key points of this article:

• The FBI has announced the arrest of Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder accused of running a cryptocurrency-powered cocaine-trafficking empire.
• The wedding was delayed in Mexico, marking a historic victory against the use of cryptocurrencies by cartels and heralding the end of anonymity for cryptocurrency tycoons.

A Criminal Empire Fueled by Tether (USDT) According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment, Ryan Wedding managed a complex logistic a network that smuggled cocaine from Colombia to of the United States transit through Mexico . The most impressive aspect of this criminal organization was the extensive use of stablecoins Tether (USDT) to bypass the traditional banking system.

Investigators claim that drug dealers simple ones were used QR codes to receive payments in USDT for shipping drugs . This system allowed them to launder millions of dollars almost instantly through borders . By the end of 2024, the authorities have already seized a ton of cocaine and its equivalent 3.2 million dollars in cryptocurrency linked to that network, and also identified a jewelry store in Toronto that was used as a front to convert digital assets into cash.

The manhunt released by FBI teams now marks the moment: Arrested – Source: Account X

Cocaine and Cryptocurrency: One of the FBI’s Biggest Seizures in 2026 Ryan Wedding, who the FBI believed to be one of the 10 most wanted fugitives, became the object of a colossal reward in size 15 million dollars . His arrest is the new director of the FBI Kash Patel called big victory in a message published on X emphasized the exemplary international cooperation which led to the finding of a former athlete, a participant in the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

It delight is part of a wider operations against using cryptocurrencies cartels . The U.S. Treasury Department has already imposed sanctions against several entities associated with the defendant, signaling a commitment eliminate not only the physical infrastructure of trade, but also its digital financial infrastructure basis . It is expected that the future litigation will highlight the increasing complexity of online money laundering methods used by organized crime in North America.

The fall of Ryan Wedding marks the end of a spectacular ascent and illustrates the end of anonymity for cryptocurrency tycoons. Although USDT has long been perceived by criminal networks as a discretionary tool, the tracking capabilities of federal agencies by 2026 prove that blockchain has become effective hunting grounds for the FBI .