The portrayal of Ryan Wedding in the U.S. is being exaggerated to create a significant news event upon his eventual capture, according to a member of the Mexican cartel believed to be shielding him, as reported by CBC News in northwestern Mexico. The Sinaloa cartel operative mentioned the long-standing narcotics dealings with Canadian clients but only recently became aware of Wedding through media and social platforms. Wedding’s name has gained widespread attention recently, drawing comparisons to the notorious drug lord Joaquín (El Chapo) Guzmán Loera.
The U.S. Justice Department asserts that Wedding, aged 44, resides in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, a major global crime syndicate. FBI Director Kash Patel has likened Wedding to the new El Chapo, while U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Wedding oversees a criminal enterprise responsible for trafficking substantial amounts of cocaine from Mexico into the U.S. and Canada.
A $15 million reward has been offered by the U.S. State Department for Wedding’s capture, as he has been evading authorities since 2015. Earlier this year, Wedding was added to the FBI’s top 10 most-wanted fugitives list. Seeking further insights into Wedding’s case, CBC News conducted an interview with a cartel member purportedly aiding in Wedding’s concealment. The meeting, facilitated by journalist Miguel Angel Vega, took place in a secure location in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico.
Culiacán, known as the birthplace of the Sinaloa cartel, has been a battleground between rival factions following significant cartel leadership upheavals. The cartel operative, claiming to provide security for his faction, expressed skepticism about Wedding’s ability to orchestrate large-scale drug operations independently. The operative also doubted the cartel’s involvement in protecting Wedding amid internal conflicts that threaten the cartel’s stability.
Maj.-Gen. Julices Julián González Calzada, overseeing Mexico’s National Guard troops in Sinaloa, emphasized restoring peace in Culiacán and clarified that Wedding is not a primary focus for their operations. The Sinaloa cartel’s presence in Canada for over two decades has involved drug trafficking ranging from cocaine to methamphetamine and fentanyl. The cartel operative highlighted the profitability of the drug trade in Canada and the challenges faced in the U.S. due to heightened competition and theft within organized crime groups.
