At a Glance
- Dozens of high-powered motorcycles worth $40 million seized in Mexico.
- Mexican authorities also seized vehicles, artwork, Olympic medals, drugs, and other items.
- Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for a drug ring.
- Why it matters: The raid demonstrates the reach of Wedding’s alleged trafficking network and the growing cooperation between U.S., Mexican, and Canadian law-enforcement.
Mexican authorities have seized a cache of high-powered motorcycles and other assets from former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, a top FBI fugitive. The haul, valued at an estimated $40 million, was part of a joint operation involving the FBI, LAPD, and RCMP. Wedding, who is believed to be protected by the Sinaloa cartel, has long been accused of running a violent drug trafficking organization.
Seizure Details
The seizure was announced by the FBI’s Los Angeles office and included dozens of motorcycles, as well as two vehicles, artwork, two Olympic medals, drugs and other items recovered from four locations in Mexico City. Photos of the seized motorcycles were released, but the exact sites remain undisclosed. The operation was a collaboration between U.S., Mexican, and Canadian agencies.
- Dozens of high-powered motorcycles
- Two vehicles
- Artwork
- Two Olympic medals
- Drugs
- Other items
Background on Wedding
Wedding represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City but did not win a medal, finishing 24th in the men’s giant parallel slalom. He was indicted in Los Angeles federal court on multiple drug charges and later faced additional accusations of ordering a hit on a witness and hiring assassins. The U.S. Department of Justice increased the reward for information leading to his arrest to $15 million.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Competed in Salt Lake City Winter Olympics |
| 2008 | Began drug trafficking activities in San Diego |
| 2011 | Released from prison after conspiracy conviction |
| 2023 | Mexican authorities seize assets linked to Wedding |
Wedding’s organization has been described as one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking groups in the world, responsible for importing about 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into Los Angeles. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted his role as the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada. The FBI Director Kash Patel compared him to drug kingpins like Pablo Escobar and Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.
FBI Director Kash Patel said:
> “He has been compared to Pablo Escobar and Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated:
> “He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world… He is currently the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada.”
Key Takeaways
- Dozens of motorcycles worth $40 million seized from a top FBI fugitive.
- Mexican authorities also seized vehicles, artwork, medals, drugs, and other items.
- Wedding is a former Olympic snowboarder now linked to a large drug trafficking network.
The seizure underscores the continued efforts to dismantle Wedding’s network and the international reach of his operations.
