Mexican Authorities Seize Estimated $40 Million Collection Of High‑End Motorcycles Believed To Belong To Former Olympia Snowboarder And Fugitive Ryan Wedding,

Mexican authorities have seized an estimated $40 million collection of high‑end motorcycles believed to belong to former Olympian and fugitive Ryan James Wedding, part of an international probe into an alleged drug trafficking empire.

Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian national and former Olympic snowboarder, is accused by U.S. prosecutors of running a large‑scale drug trafficking organization that moved cocaine from South America through Mexico into North America. Wedding is listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list and U.S. authorities have offered a reward for information leading to his arrest; the Department of Justice recently increased that reward to $15 million. U.S. officials allege the network smuggled multiple metric tons of cocaine into Los Angeles and other U.S. ports of entry each year.

Mexican police executed multiple search warrants this month at properties in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, uncovering dozens of rare and vintage motorcycles stored across garages and warehouses.

The raid targeted four properties across Mexico City and the State of Mexico. Inside, investigators discovered a warehouse containing 62 high-end motorcycles, many of which are rare racing specimens and vintage collectibles.

Automotive experts and law enforcement noted that the collection includes:

• MotoGP Replicas: Several bikes featuring racing liveries and sponsor decals.

• Rare Ducatis: Models such as the Ducati SuperMono and a Paul Smart-Edition SportClassic.

• Historical Gems: What appears to be a 1996 Aprilia RS125R once ridden by racing legend Valentino Rossi.

Beyond the bikes, authorities also recovered two Olympic medals, artwork, ammunition, and quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana. While Wedding competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, he did not win a medal; officials are still investigating the origin of the medals found in his possession.

From the Slopes to the "Most Wanted" List

Wedding, 44, has undergone a radical transformation from a world-class athlete to an alleged leader of a transnational criminal enterprise. He currently occupies a spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

According to federal indictments, Wedding’s organization allegedly:

• Trafficked Cocaine: Shipped over 60 metric tons of cocaine annually from Colombia through Mexico and into the U.S. and Canada.

• Generated Billions: Operated a network that raked in an estimated $1 billion a year in illegal proceeds.

• Orchestrated Murders: Ordered multiple killings, including the 2023 murders of a family in Ontario, Canada, and the 2025 execution of a federal witness in Medellín, Colombia.

The Global Manhunt

Authorities believe Wedding is currently residing in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel. This recent seizure follows the confiscation of an ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster worth $13 million last month, which was also linked to Wedding’s money-laundering network.

"Ryan Wedding’s athletic drive snowballed into a life of violence," said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles office. "Instead of conquering mountains, he mastered a deadly drug distribution enterprise."

The operation was carried out in coordination with U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies and followed leads developed during a cross‑border investigation.

The FBI’s Los Angeles office released images of the seized motorcycles and described the haul as a significant asset recovery in the ongoing manhunt. Mexican authorities said the seizure resulted from coordinated warrants and intelligence sharing with the FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local police forces. Investigators are cataloguing the bikes and tracing ownership and purchase records as part of broader asset‑forfeiture and criminal investigations

The discovery of such a high‑value collection raises questions about how luxury assets were acquired and concealed across borders. Prosecutors will likely seek to tie the motorcycles to proceeds of alleged criminal activity and pursue forfeiture in U.S. and Mexican courts. Canadian and U.S. officials have emphasized that the seizure does not constitute a conviction and that Wedding remains a fugitive; authorities continue to urge the public to report tips to law‑enforcement hotlines