Ontario Lawyer Linked to Alleged Ryan Wedding Drug Ring Granted Bail

An Ontario lawyer accused of advising former Canadian Olympian-turned-alleged cocaine trafficker Ryan Wedding on the murder of a federal witness has been granted bail ahead of his extradition hearing.

Deepak Paradkar, 62, of Thornhill, Ont., was granted bail in a Toronto courtroom on Dec. 23 after being arrested last month for extradition to the United States as part of an investigation targeting Wedding, who tops the FBI’s most wanted list.

Paradkar is also accused of connecting Wedding to drug traffickers who transported products across North America and overseeing intelligence collection following drug seizures by law enforcement.

Federal prosecutors had argued Paradkar has an “extraordinary” incentive to flee if released on bail because he faces multiple life sentences if found guilty in the United States. The Crown also argued he might communicate with the alleged criminal organization if released.

Superior Court Justice Peter Bawden disagreed. Bawden said in his decision that it is “very unlikely” Paradkar posed a flight risk because attending court and complying with bail conditions may be his only way to stay alive.

“The most compelling reason to find that Mr. Paradkar will not flee is that it is so obviously contrary to his interests to do so,” he said. “The case that he faces may be strong, but to the extent that it depends upon the word of a co-operating witness, it is certainly defendable. If he flees and is caught, he will never again have a chance for bail.”

Paradkar’s defence lawyer said his client was unlikely to break bail conditions, noting that Paradkar had put his family’s finances on the line to secure his release and that fleeing would cause his family “extreme distress.”

In his decision, Bawden pointed to Paradkar’s age and health condition, saying that “a prolonged period of detention in a local jail would likely be harmful to Mr. Paradkar’s health.” He also said he had no reason to believe Paradkar’s wife would assist him in fleeing, citing her testimony that she would ensure her husband complies with bail conditions.

Bawden also noted there is an “ongoing political debate” in Canada around bail law, but wrote that, under current legislation, detaining an accused is the exception rather than the norm.

Bawden said he had “a high level of confidence” in the release plan suggested by Paradkar, who proposed to place himself under a number of conditions, including 24/7 house arrest, GPS monitoring, and no access to electronic devices unless in the presence of his sureties.

“A reasonable person would note that the accused is a Canadian citizen, has never previously been arrested for any offence, has presented a reliable release plan and has offered a lien on the entire value of his home to secure bail,” Bawden wrote.

Paradkar was to be released on $5.25 million bail, Bawden said in his decision.

Arrest and Accusations

Paradkar is one of several Canadians arrested last month for extradition to the United States for allegedly being involved in the suspected international drug smuggling network of Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder who is wanted on a host of drug, murder, and conspiracy charges.

Paradkar, who U.S. officials say was known as the “cocaine lawyer,” is Wedding’s attorney, according to the nine-count federal indictments against him. He is accused of advising Wedding and Wedding’s alleged right-hand man, Andrew Clark, on the murder of a key witness in a 2024 federal narcotics case to help the pair avoid extradition from Mexico on the criminal charges brought against them.

Clark was extradited to the United States in February after being arrested by Mexican authorities last October, but Wedding has evaded capture.

Paradkar, a dual Indian-Canadian citizen, is also accused of providing Wedding with court documents and case materials from the 2024 criminal case that he otherwise would not have had access to, according to the indictment.

Law enforcement officials alleged he was paid with luxury watches and “additional fees.”

Jennifer Cowan and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.