From Slopes To Cartels: Ryan Wedding Loses $40 Million Of Expensive Motorcycles in FBI Raid
You have to wonder if Ryan Wedding misses the adrenaline of the Parallel Giant Slalom. Back in 2002, he was carving up the snow in Salt Lake City, chasing Olympic glory for Canada. He finished 24th. Let’s be honest, nobody remembers who finished 24th. You don’t get the Wheaties box, and you certainly don’t get the endorsement deals.
But in a twist that sounds like it was written for a straight-to-streaming action movie, the former snowboarder found a different way to make a name for himself. He traded the fresh powder for white powder, and apparently, business has been booming. That is, until this month, when Mexican authorities decided to raid his garage.
And what a garage it was.
The High-Speed Downfall Of An Olympian
If you thought professional athletes had expensive tastes, wait until you see the shopping list of an alleged international drug kingpin. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office, along with Mexican authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, just executed a massive seizure of property believed to belong to Wedding.
We aren’t talking about a couple of vintage Harleys here. The authorities hauled away dozens of high-end motorcycles. What is the estimated street value of this collection? A cool $40 million. That is an obscene amount of horsepower to have sitting around while you are actively on the run.
A $40 Million Garage Sale Courtesy Of the FBI
The seizure wasn’t limited to the bikes belonging to Wedding. In a joint operation that spanned four different locations, authorities also grabbed two luxury vehicles, a stash of drugs (obviously), various pieces of artwork, etc.
The Mexican Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection confirmed the raids but didn’t specify exactly where the medals came from. It adds a layer of pathetic irony to the whole saga. You build a criminal empire, amass a fortune that rivals small nations, buy a fleet of $40 million super-bikes, but you still have to keep some stolen or fake glory on the shelf to remind yourself of the athlete you used to be.
Trading Gold Medals For Handcuffs
The reality of the situation is far grimmer than the flashy toys suggest. Wedding isn’t just some washed-up jock who started dealing a little pot on the side. According to the FBI, this guy is the real deal. We are talking “Top Ten Most Wanted” status.
FBI Director Kash Patel didn’t mince words, comparing the Canadian fugitive to names like Pablo Escobar and El Chapo. That is heavyweight company. Authorities allege that Wedding’s organization is responsible for moving 60 metric tons of cocaine a year into Los Angeles. He is currently cited as the largest distributor of cocaine in Canada.
He’s not just moving product; he’s accused of moving bodies. Last month, he was hit with charges alleging he ordered hits on witnesses and rival traffickers. He is believed to be hiding out under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, which explains how he managed to stay off the grid this long while maintaining such a flashy collection of assets.
The Manhunt Continues For Ryan Wedding
The United States government wants Wedding badly. They’ve slapped a $15 million reward on his head. That is the kind of money that makes even loyal friends start doing the math.
This seizure is a massive blow to his operation, or at least his ego. It says the walls are closing in. He might have the Sinaloa cartel watching his back for now, but when you have the FBI, the RCMP, and Mexican security forces tearing apart your safe houses, the clock is ticking.
Wedding went from the structured, disciplined world of Olympic sports to the chaotic, violent world of international narcotics. He didn’t make the podium in 2002, but he has certainly made headlines in 2025.
