Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum showcased a fabricated image of Ryan Wedding during a press briefing on Monday, asserting it as proof that the alleged drug lord had surrendered on his own accord. The image, which was determined by CBC News to be AI-generated, was shared on an Instagram account linked to Wedding that was debunked last week.
Addressing reporters in Mexico City, Sheinbaum attempted to dispel any notions of U.S. involvement on Mexican territory, claiming that the fugitive Wedding had turned himself in at the U.S. embassy without external coercion. She displayed the image on a large screen, citing an Instagram post allegedly from Wedding’s “representative” stating his decision to surrender after seeking assurances of a fair legal process.
The controversial image was shared on the Instagram account “bossryanw,” previously reported by CBC News to contain AI-generated images supposedly associated with Wedding. Following scrutiny, all images were removed except for the one depicting Wedding at the U.S. Embassy.
Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder and a top target on the FBI’s most-wanted list, stands accused of orchestrating a criminal network responsible for smuggling massive amounts of cocaine from Mexico to the U.S. and Canada. He was apprehended last week and swiftly transported to California to face charges, including murder.
Mexican Attorney-General Ernestina Godoy Ramos described Wedding as a pivotal figure linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, facilitating the large-scale distribution of drugs in North America. Despite Sheinbaum’s narrative of Wedding’s voluntary surrender, his defense lawyer, Anthony Colombo, refuted the claim, asserting that Wedding was indeed captured.
The use of the AI-generated image, resembling Wedding’s attire upon his arrival in Los Angeles, was met with skepticism by CBC News. Notably, the depiction showed the U.S. embassy building in Mexico City undergoing renovations, with distinct features indicating AI manipulation. Sheinbaum’s office and Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch declined to comment on the matter.
The conflicting accounts of Wedding’s arrest underscore the differing perspectives of U.S. and Mexican authorities regarding the circumstances leading to his capture. While reports suggest Mexican forces detained Wedding before handing him over to the FBI, Sheinbaum emphasized that there were no joint operations on Mexican soil. Nevertheless, Mexican officials acknowledged exerting significant pressure on Wedding to surrender willingly.