Mexican authorities have seized a collection of 62 high-end motorcycles worth an estimated $40 million as part of an international operation targeting fugitive former Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding, a man now accused of running one of the world’s most powerful cocaine trafficking networks.
Luxury Seizure in Major Cross-Border Operation
The dramatic seizure took place across four properties in Mexico City during coordinated raids conducted earlier this month. The FBI confirmed that the motorcycles were believed to belong to Wedding’s criminal organisation and were recovered with support from Mexican security forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Los Angeles Police Department.
Photographs released by the FBI showed rows of rare and highly collectible motorcycles, including race-style Ducati MotoGP models, lined up inside a warehouse. Authorities also confiscated artwork, Olympic medals, ammunition, drugs, documents, and two vehicles during the raids.
Mexican authorities recovered 62 rare motorcycles believed to belong to Wedding’s criminal network. (Source: NBC news)
The seizures are part of a wider push to dismantle Wedding’s financial and operational network as he remains one of the most wanted fugitives in the world.
From Olympic Snowboarder to Fugitive
Wedding, 44, represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, finishing 24th in the men’s parallel giant slalom. Two decades later, US prosecutors allege he is the leader of a global drug empire moving vast quantities of cocaine between South America, Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Authorities say Wedding now ranks as the largest cocaine distributor in Canada, working closely with the Sinaloa Cartel to move an estimated 60 metric tonnes of cocaine each year.
His transformation from professional athlete to alleged crime boss has become one of the most striking criminal stories in recent years, with law enforcement comparing his operations to those of infamous figures such as Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Pablo Escobar.
Federal Charges and Witness Killing
The wedding was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list following a sweeping federal indictment in Los Angeles. The charges include drug trafficking, running a criminal enterprise, money laundering, and multiple murders.
One of the most serious allegations centres on the January 2025 killing of a US federal witness in Medellín, Colombia. Prosecutors allege the witness was shot dead in a restaurant after being identified online. The killing is believed to have been ordered to prevent testimony in the federal case known as Operation Giant Slalom.
A superseding indictment unsealed in November 2025 added several suspects, including a Canadian lawyer and multiple alleged accomplices, accused of facilitating the murder-for-hire plot.
FBI Bounty and Ongoing Manhunt
The US Department of Justice is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and conviction. Investigators believe he is hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The FBI has placed Wedding on its Ten Most Wanted list and is offering a multi-million-dollar reward for information leading to his arrest. (Source: FBI )
The FBI has warned that Wedding should be considered armed and dangerous and may have altered his appearance. Officials also suspect he could be moving between cartel-controlled safehouses as pressure on his network increases.
The recent asset seizures are designed to weaken his financial base while tracking efforts continue across North America and Mexico.
Criminal Network Under Pressure
Authorities say Wedding ran a sophisticated operation that moved cocaine from Colombia to Mexico before shipping it by trucks and freight routes through Southern California and into Canada.
Key associate Andrew Clark, described as his second-in-command, was arrested in Mexico City in 2024 and extradited to Los Angeles in March 2025. Clark remains in federal custody without bail.
The investigation has already led to multiple arrests, with ten defendants charged in connection with the organisation. Officials believe further arrests may follow as intelligence from the seizures is analysed.
What the Motorcycle Seizure Reveals
The $40 million motorcycle collection highlights both the scale of Wedding’s wealth and how it was stored across multiple properties. Investigators say the bikes, along with rare cars, art, and luxury goods, were used to conceal drug proceeds and move money through physical assets.
Last month, authorities also seized a $13 million Mercedes CLK-GTR supercar linked to the fugitive, underscoring the lavish lifestyle prosecutors say was funded by cocaine profits.
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Final Thoughts
The seizure of Ryan Wedding’s motorcycle collection marks one of the most significant blows yet to the financial backbone of his alleged drug empire. While the former Olympian remains on the run, law enforcement agencies across three countries continue to close in, using asset seizures, arrests, and intelligence sharing to dismantle what they describe as one of the world’s most dangerous trafficking operations.
FAQs
- Who is Ryan Wedding?
Ryan Wedding is a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who competed at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. He is now a fugitive accused of leading a major international drug trafficking organisation.
- Why is Ryan Wedding on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list?
US authorities allege Wedding ran a transnational cocaine network and ordered acts of violence, including the killing of a federal witness.
- What did Mexican authorities seize?
Mexican officials seized 62 high-end motorcycles, along with vehicles, artwork, drugs and documents linked to Wedding’s criminal network.
- How much are the seized motorcycles worth?
The FBI estimates the collection to be worth about $40 million, making it one of the largest luxury seizures tied to a wanted fugitive.
- Where is Ryan Wedding believed to be hiding?
Investigators believe Wedding is currently in Mexico and is being protected by the Sinaloa cartel.
- What crimes is Wedding accused of?
He faces charges including large-scale drug trafficking, running a criminal enterprise, money laundering and arranging the murder of a federal witness.
- Is there a reward for information leading to his arrest?
The US government is offering up to $15 million for information that leads to his arrest and conviction.
