‘They’re closing in on him:’ Mexican raid apparently tied to Ryan Wedding

Kamil Karamali has the latest on the raids conducted by Mexican authorities and the possible connection to alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding.

Mexican authorities say they have raided four properties and seized dozens of high-priced items that appear to be linked to the former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, Ryan Wedding – in what former FBI agents say is a move bringing authorities closer to one of the U.S.’s most wanted fugitives.

“It appears to me they are closing in on him and they’re closing in on his location,” former FBI agent and federal prosecutor, M. Quentin Williams told CTV News in a Zoom interview Thursday from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mexican authorities said they seized 62 high-end motorcycles, two vehicles, methamphetamine, marijuana, artwork, ammunition and documents. They also said they seized two Olympic medals, although they didn’t publicly release who they belong to, since Wedding never made it to the podium in his one Olympic appearance in 2002.

The seized items are linked to a former Olympic athlete who is among the 10 most wanted fugitives in the U.S., according to a release by the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection of Mexico (SSPC) published Wednesday – but the document did not name Wedding directly.

It adds that multiple security agencies cooperated in creating lines of investigation regarding a former athlete of foreign nationality linked to transnational criminal activities.

The raids come as Canadian, U.S. and Mexican authorities have been stepping up efforts in a decade-long manhunt for Wedding, which began in 2015 when the RCMP charged Wedding with importing cocaine while he was living in Montreal – but he fled before police could arrest him.

• How Ryan Wedding is using cryptocurrency to launder the profits of his alleged multi-billion-dollar drug empire

The FBI alleges Wedding has been creating a drug empire in Mexico since then, trafficking billions of dollars’ worth of narcotics – earning him comparisons to Pablo Escobar and Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán.

Earlier this year, a key FBI witness who was set to testify against Wedding was shot and killed, with the agency then adding Wedding to its 10 most wanted fugitives list. The FBI later put out a $15-million reward for Wedding’s capture.

It adds that multiple security agencies cooperated in creating lines of investigation regarding a former athlete of foreign nationality linked to transnational criminal activities.

“Somebody is going to turn him in,” said CTV News public safety analyst and former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner Chris Lewis in an interview Thursday on CTV News Channel.

IN PICTURES: Ryan Wedding: From Canadian Olympian to alleged drug lord

“I mean, some of these guys have turned their buddies in for a steak dinner, let alone millions of dollars — so I think we’re seeing this get closer and closer, and one of these times they’re going to find him.”

In November, the RCMP arrested several associates, including Wedding’s lawyer, Deepak Paradkar, who allegedly advised Wedding that killing the key witness would make the case collapse. Paradkar was released on bail on Tuesday.

‘Doesn’t hurt his business’

Former FBI agents speculate the raid is a step closer to authorities arresting Wedding — also showing increased efforts by Mexican authorities to aid their American counterparts.

“Despite the fact that they didn’t capture Ryan Wedding in these raids, this is a significant step in that it shows that Mexican authorities are taking this seriously now and that they are making efforts to locate Ryan Wedding and attack his organization,” said former FBI agent and senior lecturer at the University of New Haven, Ken Gray, in an interview with CTV News on Thursday.

READ MORE: FBI seizes ‘exceptionally rare’ US$13-million Mercedes-Benz allegedly linked to Ryan Wedding

Authorities say Wedding is under the protection of the notoriously powerful Sinaloa cartel – and there’s speculation that Wedding and his associates avoided arrest in the recent raids because they were tipped off.

“They might have got a heads-up that the authorities were going to conduct these raids,” said Gray, adding that the seizures may have resulted in a loss of goods, but his alleged ties to drug trafficking are believed to be largely unaffected.

“These are just possessions of his that he had his fortune invested in,” added Gray. “It hurts him and it takes away some of his fortune -- but it does not hurt his business as far as we know.”

Gray believes the protection of the cartel over Wedding is weakening since the arrest of one of the cartel’s leaders, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, leading to increased pressure from police and rivalling cartels.

“Since Ryan Wedding had been protected by Sinaloa cartel, they are under attack and losing some of their authority plus the Mexican government are making efforts to assist U.S., which they had not been doing since last year, (meaning) they’re making efforts to find Wedding at this point,” Gray said.

WATCH: CTV National News: Ont. lawyer linked to fugitive Ryan Wedding granted bail

“They themselves are under attack and their ability to protect him at this point in the area of Mexico city may have suffered some damage.” added Gray.

Experts say the seizure of these goods can provide clues that could lead to Wedding’s arrest.

“They’re going to have to figure out whether he’s affiliated to any of these items,” Lewis said. “There may be fingerprints, there may be a way to identify him within the buildings they’re searching and someone is going to come up with the right tip at the right time.”

Williams said there is a good chance the items seized will be used to find Wedding’s associates, who police will then try to get to turn on him.

“All the investigative tools, including seeing who owns the [motorcycles], because they might not be under his name,” he said.

“So, whose name are they under? And of course you go to those people to find out if they know where he is, where he’s hiding. So there’s a good chance that they’re registered under somebody else; those people will be close to him and maybe they know something.”

CTV News reached out to Canadian, American and Mexican authorities. Most did not respond in time for deadline, while Global Affairs Canada and the FBI told CTV News they will not comment further.