INTERNATIONAL – The FBI’s Los Angeles office has released dramatic images this week showing dozens of luxury motorcycles believed to be owned by Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder who is now one of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, according to ABC News. Wedding, aged 44, is suspected of running a sprawling transnational drug trafficking network that allegedly moves cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and Southern California to Canada and beyond.
Mexican authorities executed multiple search warrants this month at four properties in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, uncovering a massive collection of motorcycles that U.S. law enforcement believes belonged to the fugitive, the FBI says. These high-end bikes, 62 in total, are thought to be worth about $40 million and were seized alongside other items, including two vehicles, artwork and Olympic medals.
The seizure was a multinational effort, with the FBI working alongside the Los Angeles Police Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Mexican security forces. In a statement on social media, the FBI emphasised that the operation reflects a commitment to “strengthening international cooperation to stop perpetrators of violence and combat high-impact crimes.” Although authorities did not initially name Wedding, they confirmed the items were connected to a “former Olympic athlete” on the run from U.S. law enforcement.
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Wedding was indicted in Los Angeles federal court last year on multiple counts, including running a continuing criminal enterprise, drug trafficking and murder in connection with that enterprise. Newer charges allege he ordered the killing of a witness set to testify against him; that victim was reportedly shot multiple times at a restaurant in Colombia earlier this year.
The U.S. Department of State has now placed a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Wedding’s arrest or conviction, and officials believe he is hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel. The release of motorcycle images and other seized items is part of a broader strategy to keep pressure on the fugitive and encourage tips from the public that could help bring him to justice.
Beyond their monetary value, the machines highlight the dramatic contrast between Wedding’s past as an athlete and his alleged current life as a crime figure. The FBI’s continued pursuit underscores the international dimensions of the case and how authorities are using asset seizures and public appeals to advance a complex manhunt that has spanned borders and drawn comparison to some of the most notorious traffickers in recent history.
