FBI says seized motorcycles belonging to alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding are worth $40M

The FBI says motorcycles valued at an estimated $40 million were seized as part of a probe into alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding. (FBI handout)

The FBI says motorcycles with an estimated value of about $40 million have been seized by Mexican authorities as part of an ongoing probe into alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding,

The seizure was announced last week by law enforcement officials in Mexico but the FBI has now released photos of the high-end motorcycles.

Officials in Mexico previously said 62 motorcycles, two vehicles, methamphetamine, marijuana, artwork, ammunition and documents were seized after four properties were raided earlier this month.

The FBI said the “successful seizure is a result of collaborative efforts” by Mexican authorities, the FBI, the RCMP, and Los Angeles Police Department.

A former FBI agent and federal prosecutor told CTV News last week that the move could mean investigators are “closing in on” Wedding’s location.

The Canadian and former Olympic athlete, who is accused of running a billion-dollar-a-year international drug empire, is among the 10 most wanted fugitives in the U.S.

Wedding is accused of ordering multiple murders in furtherance of his alleged drug empire, including at least four in Ontario and one in Colombia. U.S. authorities say the victim in the Colombia murder was a cooperating witness.

The search for Wedding began back in 2015 when the RCMP charged him with importing cocaine while he was living in Montreal. Wedding fled before police could arrest him and authorities now believe the 44-year-old is living in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel. A $15 million reward was previously issued for information leading to Wedding’s arrest.

-With files from Kamil Karamali and Phil Tsekouras