An ex-Olympic athlete is facing federal charges alongside 15 other defendants in what prosecutors have described as a ruthless and deadly cocaine trafficking ring that operated out of Los Angeles and spanned three countries.

Prosecutors say Ryan James Wedding led a drug trafficking ring importing cocaine to the United States and Canada.

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is being accused of leading an international drug trafficking ring and ordering murders. NBC News’ Guad Venegas has more on the federal indictment.

Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder from Canada, is accused by authorities of murder and running an international drug trafficking ring.

A Canadian snowboarder who previously competed in the Olympic Games is wanted by authorities for allegedly running a violent drug cartel that committed murder and trafficked tonnes of Columbian cocaine from Mexico to the US and Canada.

Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder for Canada, has been charged with running a drug trafficking ring that shipped vast amounts of cocaine across the Americas and killed several people, authorities said.

The former Olympic athlete has been named in a sprawling indictment along with 14 others, accusing them of running a murderous, multibillion-dollar drug-running operation.