Allegations Include Advising Murder of Federal Witness in Major Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

THORNHILL, ONTARIO / WASHINGTON D.C. – Prominent Toronto-area criminal defence lawyer, Deepak Balwant Paradkar, 62, was arrested Tuesday by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in connection with a sweeping U.S. federal indictment that alleges he was part of a transnational criminal enterprise.

The charges, unsealed Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), link Mr. Paradkar to the organization allegedly run by former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, Ryan James Wedding, who is currently on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Core Allegations

The 54-page, nine-count federal grand jury indictment alleges Mr. Paradkar, who served as Wedding’s legal counsel, advised his client to murder a federal witness to prevent his extradition to Mexico in a separate criminal case.

• Conspiracy to Commit Murder: U.S. authorities allege Mr. Paradkar recommended the key witness be killed. Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, stated that Mr. Paradkar told Wedding, “If you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed.” The witness was fatally shot in a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.

• Facilitation of Criminal Activity: The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Mr. Paradkar, alleging he introduced Wedding to drug traffickers and allowed Wedding to eavesdrop on calls with other clients.

• Confidential Information: Authorities allege Mr. Paradkar provided confidential court documents and arranged meetings with individuals under arrest or investigation through a network of lawyers.

• Payment: The indictment claims Mr. Paradkar received luxury watches and additional fees as payment for his alleged services to the enterprise.

Connection to Ryan Wedding Network

Mr. Paradkar is one of seven Canadians arrested this week and one of ten total individuals charged in connection with the case, which authorities have dubbed “Operation Giant Slalom.” The network is accused of trafficking large quantities of cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and into the United States and Canada.

According to the indictment, Mr. Paradkar is identified by the alias “cocaine_lawyer,” referencing his previous social media handle on Instagram, where he posted about drug cases and expensive cars. A 2017 article noted one of his posts, featuring a yellow Lamborghini, with the comment: “Cocaine pays lol!!!”

Extradition Process Underway

Mr. Paradkar, a criminal barrister, is facing charges that include conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking. He is currently in custody in Canada, pending an extradition hearing to the United States to face charges in the Central District of California. If convicted, Mr. Paradkar and the other defendants could face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

Background on the Lawyer

Mr. Paradkar, 62, of Thornhill, Ontario, has been a known figure in the Canadian legal community, representing high-profile clients in notorious criminal cases, including serial killer Dellen Millard. He was called to the bar in Ontario in 1993.

The U.S. Department of Justice emphasized that an indictment contains only allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.