Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum displayed a fabricated image of Ryan Wedding to journalists on Monday, asserting it as proof that the alleged drug lord had surrendered willingly. The image, which CBC News confirmed was AI-generated, appeared on an Instagram account linked to Wedding that was discredited last week.
During a press briefing in Mexico City, Sheinbaum emphasized that U.S. authorities did not conduct operations on Mexican territory. She claimed that Wedding, a Canadian fugitive, had turned himself in at the U.S. embassy independently.
Accompanied by the image on a large screen, Sheinbaum cited an Instagram post supposedly from Wedding’s “representative.” The caption stated, “After ensuring a fair process, I have chosen to surrender to the authorities.”
The controversial image was posted on the Instagram account “bossryanw,” previously exposed by CBC News for featuring AI-created pictures associated with Wedding. Following scrutiny, all images on the account were removed, leaving only the AI-generated photo depicting Wedding at the U.S. Embassy.
Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder, was apprehended and transported to California to face federal charges, including murder. Mexican Attorney-General Ernestina Godoy Ramos labeled Wedding as a pivotal figure linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and a major drug distributor in North America.
In a Santa Ana courtroom, Wedding pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense lawyer, Anthony Colombo, refuted claims of a voluntary surrender, calling it inaccurate.
The AI-generated image, resembling Wedding at the U.S. Embassy, stirred controversy due to discrepancies such as the ongoing renovations visible at the embassy and distorted letters on the man’s cap. Sheinbaum’s office and Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch declined to comment on the use of the AI-generated image.
The conflicting narratives surrounding Wedding’s arrest underscore the differing accounts presented by U.S. and Mexican authorities. Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico does not engage in joint operations and clarified that Mexican law enforcement can act on intelligence shared by the U.S. regarding suspects wanted by American authorities. Godoy highlighted the pressure exerted by her office and Mexico’s security department leading to Wedding’s surrender.
This incident raises questions about the credibility of information and images circulated in connection with high-profile arrests.