At a Glance
- Mexican raid seizes $40M worth of motorcycles linked to Olympic snowboarder-turned-drug kingpin.
- Authorities also seized cars, art, medals and drugs at four Mexico City sites.
- U.S. reward for info leading to his arrest now $15M.
- Why it matters: The raid confirms the reach of a high-profile drug trafficker and expands the U.S. hunt for him.
A joint operation by Mexican, U.S. and Canadian authorities has seized a haul of high-powered motorcycles, vehicles, artwork and drugs linked to Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder and top suspect in a multi-million-dollar cocaine ring.
The Raid and Seized Goods
Mexican security forces seized motorcycles worth an estimated $40 million, along with two cars, two Olympic medals, artwork and narcotics at four separate sites in Mexico City.
Seized Items
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | 70+ | Worth $40M |
| Cars | 2 | – |
| Olympic medals | 2 | Source unclear |
| Artwork | – | – |
| Drugs | – | – |
Background on Wedding
Wedding, 44, competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics but never medaled. He is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for running an international drug trafficking organization that imports about 60 metric tons of cocaine annually into Los Angeles.
- Indicted on multiple drug-related charges in Los Angeles federal court.
- Accused of ordering a hit on a witness and hiring assassins to kill rival traffickers.
- Allegedly controls the largest cocaine distribution network in Canada.
U.S. Rewards and Law Enforcement Efforts
The U.S. Department of Justice recently raised the reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest to $15 million. The operation was coordinated by the FBI Los Angeles office, LAPD and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Key Takeaways
- Mexican raid confirms extensive reach of Wedding’s drug network.
- $40M worth of high-powered motorcycles seized.
- U.S. reward now $15M, underscoring priority of capture.
The raid underscores the growing cooperation between law-enforcement agencies and the high stakes of tracking a trafficker who once stood on the Olympic podium.
