Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, accused of being one of the largest narcotics traffickers in modern times is in FBI custody after his arrest in Mexico City last night.

Ryan Wedding, described as a “modern-day Pablo Escobar,” and also compared to “El Chapo” is accused of running a “murderous drug empire,” allegedly shielded by the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico.

Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI investigation, Akil Davis says Wedding, and 36 others are now facing federal prosecution in the United States on numerous charges linked to a “trans-national crime network” accused of “shipping massive amounts of cocaine, approximately 60 metric tonnes, through southern California on its way to Canada. Mr. Wedding is also wanted for orchestrating multiple murders of victims and government witnesses.”

The arrests were made possible in partnership with the RCMP and law enforcement officials in Mexico, Columbia and the Dominican Republic.

Davis says “multiple individuals” are still being sought as the investigation continues.

Speaking at a news conference in Los Angeles, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhame says countless hours and multiple sacrifices were made leading to the arrests.

“We can proudly say our communities, our countries are much safer with the arrest of Ryan Wedding.”