From Snowboard Slopes to Drug Kingpin: Ryan Wedding's Shocking Transformation

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian, has been charged with operating a global cocaine trafficking network with the Sinaloa Cartel. Accused of 17 felonies, including conspiracy to commit murder, Wedding was arrested in Mexico City and extradited to the U.S. where he pleaded not guilty. Conviction could lead to life imprisonment.

Ryan Wedding, once celebrated as a Canadian Olympic snowboarder, now faces grave accusations of running a global cocaine trafficking operation. On Monday, he pled not guilty to 17 felony charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, during an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California.

Arrested in Mexico City and subsequently extradited to the U.S., Wedding is accused of collaborating with Mexico's infamous Sinaloa Cartel to smuggle large quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico into North America. The U.S. prosecutors have specified that his operations included ordering several drug-related murders.

Recognized as a top narco-trafficker, he was listed on the FBI's 'Top 10 Most Wanted' with a $15 million bounty on his head. FBI Director Kash Patel compared him to infamous drug lords like 'El Chapo.' As his trial approaches, Wedding faces the prospect of a life sentence if found guilty.

(With inputs from agencies.)