Mexico raises $5.4M for social services by selling off Ryan Wedding's motorbike collection
Mexico has raised roughly $5.4 million by auctioning off a rare collection of motorcycles seized from alleged Canadian drug lord Ryan Wedding, with the funds earmarked for social services.
Accused drug trafficker's motorcycles were seized last year, before Wedding's arrest and extradition to U.S.
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Mexican authorities say a "historic" two-day bidding war has raised roughly $5.4 million through the sale of a rare collection of high-end motorcycles seized from alleged Canadian drug lord Ryan Wedding — with the funds earmarked for social services.
The Ontario-born alleged cocaine kingpin's motorbike collection was uncovered in law enforcement raids last year in Mexico City and the nearby Mexico state.
Wedding's collection of rare and high-performance motorcycles — which include models from Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, MV Agusta, Suzuki and Yamaha — were estimated by the FBI to be worth roughly $40 million US after they were seized in December.
More than a hundred attendees at a banquet hall south of Mexico City waited in anticipation Wednesday for the public bidding to open on hundreds of items, which included the dozens of luxury motorbikes belonging to the former Canadian Olympic athlete, according to reporting from the newspaper El País.
Speaking to reporters alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum this morning, the head of the Mexican public agency INDEP — translated as the institute to return stolen assets to the people — described the two-day bidding war on Wednesday and Thursday as "historic."
WATCH | Motorcycles seized had estimated value of $40M US :
Motorcycles seized from Ryan Wedding used for pro racing: FBI
January 2|
Duration
2:02
The FBI recently seized dozens of high-end motorcycles believed to belong to Canadian fugitive Ryan Wedding with an estimated value of $40 million US. The FBI is now confirming some of the motorcycles were used in professional racing.Mónica Fernández Balboa said some of the "impressive" motorcycles "are going to museums in other parts of the world."
She said 57 of Wedding's 62 seized motorbikes were sold, with the remaining five to be auctioned off on Nov. 27.
Of the $5.4 million Cdn raised, Sheinbaum said $3 million would go toward a music conservatory. Proceeds from the agency's auctions typically go to fund social services.
El País said bidders at the Wednesday auction ranged from private enthusiasts to a well-known U.S. collecting and auction house.
Mexican authorities opened up a public bidding war on 61 motorcycles — including this one — earlier this week. The machines were seized in December 2025 during raids targeting Wedding. (INDEP)
At the time, Wedding was considered one of the agency's most wanted fugitives.
He was arrested the following month.
Wedding's California-based lawyer, Anthony Colombo, described the auction as a "corrupt action by Mexican law enforcement" in an email to CBC News ahead of the auction.
He said the bikes were found as part of a U.S. investigation and American authorities had not sought to seize the property. Colombo said Mexico had no authority to claim the goods.
"Any buyer of this property should be aware that they are not purchasing an item with a clear title and will be subject to litigation regarding ownership in the future," Colombo said.
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