Yes, Olympic narco Ryan Wedding really did surrender

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There was a surprise end for the fugitive run of the former Olympic athlete who allegedly became the largest narco trafficker in modern times; Ryan Wedding turned himself in Mexico and was flown to California the next morning — an instantaneous extradition. Let me tell you about it. The Mob Reporter here with news that Ryan Wedding, who was on the FBI’s top ten most wanted list, did indeed decide he preferred arrest on American soil over a different outcome, perhaps a shallow grave in Mexico. His sudden capture, however, sparked duelling narratives over how it happened, one being pushed by officials on each side of the U.S.-Mexico border. But I think I’ve got to the bottom of that. LINK TO MY PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RYAN WEDDING: • https://youtu.be/MTEObPLIMXw • https://youtu.be/ERBp_Vd1UV4 Ryan Wedding could be called the $15 million man, based on the size of the bounty the U.S. government was offering as a reward for his capture. Or the billion-dollar man, based on the estimated value of the cocaine network he allegedly controlled. The FBI describes him as a Mr. Big, but we might not get a firm handle on how big, in terms of underworld power, until his trial, but physically, there can be no doubt. Wedding is a big guy. He’s 6-foot-3 — not outrageously tall — but look how he towers over the phalanx of federal agents and police officers who welcomed him to America on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. In Mexico he was known as “Thor.” We can see why. The sudden arrest in Mexico City happened when FBI Director Kash Patel was there meeting with Mexican security officials. He came prepared, with a large jet and the FBI’s SWAT-style unit. Patel described the arrest in dramatic terms, saying the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team “executed with precision, discipline, and total professionalism alongside our Mexican partners to bring Ryan James Wedding back to face justice.” He added: “This was a zero-margin, high-risk operation.” Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s top security official, however, made it sound like a rather gentle affair. Harfuch said Wedding voluntarily surrendered at the U.S. Embassy n Mexico City. As I understand it, there was some form of contact or negotiation between Wedding and U.S. officials for days ahead of the arrest. It wasn’t likely a surprise to the FBI when he surrendered, nor a happy coincidence that Kash Patel was there at the time. Wedding turning himself in at the U.S. embassy solves problems for everyone. It would allow for Wedding’s immediate arrest by U.S. officials and the prompt transfer out of Mexico without the need for extradition hearings and court appearances. It could also help avoid the political difficulty for Mexican officials of a direct U.S. armed action in Mexico without legislative approval. The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ronald D. Johnson, is a former military man. He also released a statement on the capture. The ambassador’s account strikes a balance. He confirms that Wedding’s arrest was a surrender. In the Spanish version, he is even stronger, saying it was a “voluntary surrender.” But, he said, it was a surrender that came as the “direct result of pressure applied by Mexican and U.S. law enforcement working in close coordination,” he says. Watch the video for the full story. CREDITS: Music is: Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake // Addicted by VYEN // Drop by Anno Domini Beats; Mexico City videos by Israyosoy S at Pexels; Snowboard footage to show what the world saw of Ryan Wedding in competition is from CBC; HRT video is from the FBI; Embassy exteriors from Google Street View. ~ The Mob Reporter is a professional journalist bringing you real-life mob, police and true crime news, investigative journalism and educational videos. ~ PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/themobreporter?sub_confirmation=1 ~ Please subscribe to my other channels: • Crime Watch: https://www.youtube.com/CrimeWatchWorld • Crime in Italy: https://www.youtube.com/CrimeInItaly ~ Written journalism: https://nationalpost.com/author/ahumphreys/ Please like, share, comment and subscribe. Thanks for watching! -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Please watch: "Genius jewel heist wrecked by sloppy mistakes": https://youtu.be/KkEk0k0d_7Y -~-~~-~~~-~~-~-