Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum displayed a fabricated image of Ryan Wedding to journalists on Monday, asserting it as proof that the alleged drug kingpin had surrendered willingly. The image, which was actually created using artificial intelligence, was shared on an Instagram account linked to Wedding that was debunked by CBC News last week.
During a press briefing in Mexico City, Sheinbaum attempted to minimize any perception of U.S. involvement on Mexican soil, claiming that the Ontario-born fugitive had turned himself in at the U.S. embassy. She highlighted a quote from the Instagram post, supposedly from Wedding’s “representative,” stating his decision to surrender after seeking fair treatment.
The questionable image was uploaded to the Instagram account bossryanw, which was previously flagged by CBC News for featuring AI-generated pictures falsely associated with Wedding. Following inquiries, the account holder failed to provide any evidence of a connection to the fugitive.
Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder and one of the FBI’s most-wanted fugitives, stands accused of orchestrating a criminal network responsible for trafficking large quantities of drugs from Mexico into the U.S. and Canada. After his recent arrest, he was swiftly transported to California to face federal charges, including murder.
Mexican Attorney-General Ernestina Godoy Ramos described Wedding as a pivotal figure linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and a significant facilitator of drug distribution in North America. Despite claims of a voluntary surrender, Wedding pleaded not guilty in a California court, with his defense attorney refuting Mexico’s narrative of his apprehension.
The dissemination of an AI-generated image of Wedding by Sheinbaum’s office raises questions about the conflicting versions of events surrounding his arrest. While U.S. and Mexican officials differ in their accounts, highlighting the complexities of cross-border law enforcement cooperation, the ultimate outcome for the accused fugitive remains to be seen.