An operative affiliated with the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico has accused the U.S. of sensationalizing the persona of Ryan Wedding, a suspected drug kingpin, to generate significant media attention upon his eventual capture. The operative, speaking to CBC News in northwestern Mexico, mentioned that while the cartel has a history of dealing with Canadian drug buyers, Wedding’s name only recently gained widespread recognition through news outlets and social media.
Describing Wedding as the “new Chapo,” a reference to the infamous Joaquín (El Chapo) Guzmán Loera, the operative suggested that the U.S. authorities might be purposely delaying Wedding’s arrest to amplify the eventual apprehension as a major news event. The U.S. Justice Department believes that Wedding, residing in Mexico under the Sinaloa cartel’s shield, is involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking operations.
FBI Director Kash Patel has likened Wedding to the notorious El Chapo, emphasizing Wedding’s alleged role in trafficking substantial amounts of cocaine into the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has further implicated Wedding in overseeing an organization responsible for smuggling significant cocaine quantities across borders.
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. Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, was added to the FBI’s top 10 most-wanted list earlier this year.
In an effort to gather more intelligence on Wedding, CBC News conducted an interview through an intermediary journalist with a cartel member supposedly aiding Wedding’s concealment. The meeting took place in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa known for its cartel activities and ongoing factional conflicts within the criminal organization.
The operative, who claimed to have provided “security” for his faction, hinted at the complexity of Wedding’s alleged drug operations and doubted Wedding’s ability to orchestrate such large-scale trafficking independently. He expressed skepticism over the cartel’s involvement in protecting Wedding due to internal strife and potential collapse within the organization.
Maj.-Gen. Julices Julián González Calzada of Mexico’s National Guard in Sinaloa mentioned that their primary focus is restoring peace in Culiacán, with Wedding not currently being a target of their operations. The Sinaloa cartel’s enduring presence in Canada, spanning over two decades, has facilitated various drug trafficking activities, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl distribution.
Despite challenges in the U.S. drug market due to heightened criminal competition, the cartel operative highlighted the profitability of the drug trade in Canada, where affluent clients pay a premium for illicit substances. The operative distinguished the clientele in Canada as high-ranking individuals, contrasting them with more opportunistic individuals in the U.S. involved in drug theft and organized crime.
