The Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum, displayed an altered image of Ryan Wedding to journalists on Monday, claiming it as proof that the accused drug lord had surrendered willingly. However, CBC News investigation revealed that the image was actually created using artificial intelligence and shared on an Instagram account associated with Wedding that had been discredited the previous week.
During a press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum minimized the idea of U.S. authorities operating in Mexico, asserting that Wedding, a fugitive from Ontario, had turned himself in at the U.S. embassy. She referenced an Instagram post allegedly from Wedding’s representative stating his decision to surrender after seeking assurances for a fair process.
The image, projected behind Sheinbaum, was sourced from the Instagram account “bossryanw,” which was exposed by CBC News for featuring AI-generated images related to Wedding. Following inquiries, the account operator failed to substantiate any link to the 44-year-old former Olympic athlete.
Ryan Wedding, previously listed on the FBI’s top 10 most-wanted list, faces charges of orchestrating a criminal network that smuggled large quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the U.S. and Canada. He was apprehended and flown to California for trial, where he pleaded not guilty to various charges including murder.
Mexican Attorney-General Ernestina Godoy Ramos described Wedding as a crucial logistics operator for the Sinaloa Cartel, facilitating drug distribution across North America. Wedding’s lawyer denied Mexico’s claim that his client surrendered, emphasizing the inaccuracy of such assertions.
An AI-generated image posted after Wedding’s arrest depicted a man resembling him in attire similar to what he wore upon arrival in Los Angeles, purportedly posing outside the U.S. embassy in Mexico City. However, CBC News confirmed discrepancies in the image, including the ongoing renovations at the embassy and the characteristic distortion in the cap worn by the man.
The conflicting narratives from U.S. and Mexican authorities surrounding Wedding’s arrest underscore the complexity of the situation. While Vanity Fair reported Wedding’s capture by Mexican forces before being handed over to U.S. custody, Mexican officials denied any joint operations, stating they only act on U.S. intelligence.
The incident raises questions about the differing versions of events leading to Wedding’s arrest and the role of each country in the operation. Sheinbaum and Godoy emphasized Mexico’s independence in handling such cases and denied any collaborative efforts with foreign authorities in apprehending high-profile fugitives.
