Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has pleaded not guilty to all 17 felony charges, including drug trafficking, witness tampering and conspiracy to commit murder.

In his first court appearance since his arrest in Mexico last week, Wedding appeared relaxed, smiling with his attorneys and occasionally at the media and FBI agents while stretching his unhandcuffed arms.

Wedding is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for allegedly running a multinational drug ring that imported millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine into Los Angeles and distributed it throughout Canada and the United States.

He is also accused of plotting to murder a man who planned to testify against him.

U.S. officials claimed that the 44-year-old man was living in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Wedding, who was wearing a tan prison jumper over an orange shirt and socks, told Judge John Earl on Monday that he had read both indictments against him and understood his rights. His lawyers did not ask for bail but said they may offer it at another date.

Wedding is a Canadian national who competed in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but he still looks like an athlete – standing at 1.91m (6ft 3in), 109kg (240lb) and built. Some reporters were surprised that his wrists were not cuffed.

U.S. officials have not provided details of Wedding’s arrest in Mexico, but his attorney, Anthony Colombo, disputed reports from Mexican officials that Wedding turned himself in.

“This is a false narrative,” Colombo told the BBC outside the court.

He appeared in court in Santa Ana, Orange County, instead of Los Angeles because his court location was changed due to ongoing protests outside the federal building in Los Angeles over federal immigration actions.

The wedding will take place on February 9 at a Los Angeles courthouse.

FBI Director Kash Patel has previously described Wedding as a “modern-day version of Pablo Escobar,” and the agency said Wedding’s aliases include “El Jeff,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King” and “Jesse King.”

Officials said he began his criminal career in 2011 after being released from a U.S. federal prison where he was serving time for distributing cocaine.

He is alleged to have ordered dozens of murders around the world, including in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Officials said he had been living a lavish life in Mexico as U.S. and Canadian police stepped up their search for him.

Late last year, the FBI released photos of a collection of Wedding motorcycles they had seized in Mexico, which were said to be worth around $40m (£29m).

In November, RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme said seven Canadians suspected of ties to the drug cartel had been arrested and would be extradited to the United States.