Following the surprising arrest of former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding in Mexico, journalistic sources have continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the case.
According to the Mexican government’s official account, Wedding voluntarily turned himself in to authorities, a version rejected by the Canadian’s own lawyer, Anthony Colombo, who said his client had been arrested.
“Any spin that the government of Mexico is putting on this, that he surrendered, is inaccurate,” Colombo said earlier this week.
As questions around Wedding’s case continue, Mexican journalist Anabel Hernández reported in the latest episode of her podcast Narcosistema that the former Olympian was allegedly betrayed by the Sinaloa cartel in a move she said was orchestrated by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as “Mayito Flaco,” the son of Sinaloa cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and the current leader of the La Mayiza faction.
Hernández’s claims are based on three independent sources who told the journalist they were familiar with the details of Wedding’s detention. According to Infobae México, Hernández’s sources are linked to illicit activities in which Wedding himself was involved.
“He was lured under false pretenses by a member of the Sinaloa cartel and, at the meeting, was arrested in an operation led by the FBI on Mexican soil,” Hernández said.
The journalist said the betrayal was meant to secure a favorable deal in the U.S. for “Mayito Flaco,” anticipating a possible handover, in a move similar to that of Joaquín Guzmán López, “El Chapo’s” son, who kidnapped and turned over El Mayo Zambada to U.S. authorities in 2024.
“A cartel member summoned Wedding to offer him a lucrative drug deal he couldn’t refuse,” Hernández added. “Confident and overtrusting, Wedding went to the meeting with only two bodyguards, who were more like private security, trying to stay under the radar. But he was in for a huge surprise when U.S. law enforcement officers suddenly arrived.”
According to the U.S. government’s version, FBI agents arrested Wedding in an operation carried out on Mexican soil. This version is supported by a recent investigation by The Wall Street Journal, which reported the arrest was part of a “secret raid” led by the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. The outlet said that before the capture, U.S. authorities negotiated with Wedding, warning him about the detention of his accomplices and the seizure of millions of dollars in assets.
Hernández claimed that Wedding had ties with all factions of the Sinaloa cartel, including Los Chapitos, La Mayiza, and the faction led by Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, also known as “Chapo Isidro.” According to her sources, Hernández revealed that the Canadian allegedly owed Meza Flores $50 million for cocaine shipments already delivered.
After pleading not guilty earlier this week to 17 drug-related charges, Wedding is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 11 for a status hearing, where the parties will discuss whether the trial date, set for March 24, is realistic or needs to be postponed. In the meantime, Wedding remains in custody in California.
Originally published on Latin Times
