Ryan Wedding probe: Images show property believed to be fugitive's

The FBI on Monday released images of dozens of motorcycles believed to belong to former Canadian Olympic snowboarder-turned-alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding.

The motorcycles were seized this month by authorities in Mexico.

Wedding, 44, is on the FBI’s 10 most wanted fugitives list. He is wanted for allegedly running a transnational drug trafficking operation that ships cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other locations, the FBI said.

Motorcycles estimated to be worth $40 million

Mexican authorities “seized a large number of motorcycles” estimated to be worth $40 million and believed to belong to the fugitive, the FBI Los Angeles said in a statement on social media on Monday, alongside photos of the motorcycles.

The FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Mexican authorities collaborated on the “successful seizure,” the FBI Los Angeles said.

Last week, officials in Mexico announced the seizure of items “related to a former Olympic athlete who is among the 10 most wanted fugitives by U.S. authorities.” They did not specifically identify Wedding, but he is the only fugitive on the list fitting the description.

The items included 62 “high-end” motorcycles,” along with two vehicles, artwork, two Olympic medals, drugs and other items, Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection said.

Items seized from four properties in Mexico

The items were seized from four properties in Mexico City and the state of Mexico during the execution of search warrants, according to the agency, which it said was committed to “strengthening international cooperation to stop perpetrators of violence and combat high-impact crimes.”

Wedding was indicted in L.A. federal court last year on multiple charges, including running a continuing criminal enterprise, committing murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and assorted drug crimes.

In November, new charges alleged that he ordered the killing of a witness in the federal case. The victim was shot in the head multiple times at a restaurant in Colombia in January, federal prosecutors said.

Lawyer granted bail

Lawyer Deepak Paradkar, who is allegedly connected to Wedding, was granted bail last Tuesday morning by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, ahead of his extradition hearing.

The Brampton, Ont., lawyer, 62, is accused of playing a role in Wedding’s international drug-trafficking operation, including allegations that he counselled Wedding to kill a witness.

The Department of State is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Wedding. He is believed to be in Mexico and being protected by the Sinaloa cartel, authorities said.

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