Record Toronto-area drug bust may be linked to fugitive ex-Olympian Ryan Wedding
A recent record-setting $50-million cocaine seizure by police in the Toronto area may be connected to former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged crime boss Ryan Wedding, a CBC News investigation has found.
Peel Regional Police said last week the cocaine bust – the biggest such seizure in the agency's history – came after investigators discovered a criminal network exploiting commercial trucking routes to move drugs across the U.S. border into Canada.
The smuggling routes outlined by police mirror those that U.S. prosecutors have linked to the murderous drug ring allegedly led by Wedding, one of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives. The network is accused of routinely shipping tons of Colombian cocaine from Mexico to U.S. and Canadian destinations.
"The likelihood of what's happening here in Peel being traced back to an organization like that is very high," Peel police Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich told CBC.
He said it's "very likely" Wedding's network remains active in the suburban area west of Toronto, a key logistics hub for central Canada.
Wedding, who competed for Canada as a snowboarder at the 2002 Olympic Games in Utah, is believed to be living in Mexico under the protection of the notorious Sinaloa cartel. He was among 16 men charged last year in a U.S. federal indictment that sought to dismantle what U.S. authorities called the "Wedding Drug Trafficking Organization."
According to U.S. prosecutors, Wedding's network used semi trucks as its primary means of transporting drugs across North America.
Two men arrested last fall in Toronto are accused of orchestrating cocaine shipments to Canada for a flat rate of $220,000 each. Hardeep Ratte and his nephew Gurpreet Singh both remain in custody and face extradition to the U.S.
Wedding's top lieutenant, fellow Canadian Andrew Clark, was arrested in Mexico last year and later transferred to U.S. custody.
Still, U.S. prosecutors said earlier this year that Wedding, 43, "continues to traffic drugs while in hiding" and warned he still has access to a "network of hitmen."
The RCMP also recently confirmed to CBC "elements of his network" remain in place in Canada.
Wedding and Clark face murder charges tied to four deaths in Ontario, including an "execution-style" shooting over a drug debt, and the mistaken-identity killings of a couple visiting from India.
Cocaine seized at the border
According to Peel police, Canadian border agents earlier this year intercepted a combined 177 kilograms of cocaine hidden in trailers of commercial trucks at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, and the Blue Water Bridge near Sarnia. Both spans link Ontario to Michigan.
Public records from a separate case in U.S. federal court in Michigan show Wedding's $1-billion US network used the exact same scheme.
Two Ontario men – both indicted as members of Wedding's drug ring – concealed cocaine in hidden truck compartments last August as they attempted to cross the Blue Water Bridge toward Canada, according to the court files.
As for the recent record-setting drug bust in Peel Region, police said they seized a total of 479 kilograms of bricked cocaine, with an estimated street value of $47.9 million, plus two loaded handguns. Police said the drugs were destined for the Toronto area and other parts of Canada.
Nine men were arrested and charged with a combined 35 charges related to firearm and drug offences, police said.
"This investigation is still ongoing on our U.S. partners' side, to work back where the networks originate," Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said.
Peel police said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations are both involved in the case, dubbed Project Pelican. Neither agency responded to requests for comment.
The seizures come as an "unprecedented" 6,000 kilograms of cocaine have poured into Canada since last fall, according to Ontario Provincial Police.
Ryan Wedding's path from Olympian to most-wanted fugitive
3 months ago
Duration 6:03
Ryan Wedding once represented Canada as an Olympic snowboarder; now he's accused of being a drug kingpin and is on the FBI's most wanted list — with a $10 million US reward being offered for information leading to his arrest. CBC's Thomas Daigle traces his shocking path from the top of the slopes to the underworld.
'You're next,' U.S. official says of Wedding
A senior U.S. official told CBC the public has been providing a steady flow of tips about Wedding's whereabouts, since the State Department began offering a $10-million US reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
F. Cartwright Weiland, who leads the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said it appeared as though Wedding's connections to Mexican officials have helped him to evade capture.
"Any time that we've gotten close, he can rely on those people watching out for him, to alert him in advance," Weiland said in an interview.
"Ryan, we're getting tips every day. People are calling in," Weiland said, when asked if he has a message for the Thunder Bay, Ont.-born fugitive.
"You're next, buddy."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
29 minutes ago
- CTV News
Collision on Gardiner Expressway leaves one person dead
Police are on the scene of a motorcycle crash on the Gardiner Expressway on Friday, June 20, 2025. (Jacob Estrin/CTV News Toronto) One person is dead following a collision between a motorcycle and a truck on the Gardiner Expressway Friday night. Toronto police say they received a call just before 7:45 p.m. for the crash in the eastbound express lanes near Islington Avenue. One male victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Toronto paramedics say. The cause of the collision is unknown. Police closed the eastbound express lanes for the investigation.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Man dead after shooting in Brampton
A man is dead after a shooting in Brampton on Friday, Peel Regional Police say. The shooting happened in the area of Rutherford Road S. and Glidden Road, near Highway 410, police said in a post on X on Friday. Officers were called to the scene at about 5:45 p.m. Paramedics took the man in life-threatening condition to hospital, where he died. The suspects left in a vehicle, according to police. There is a large police presence in the area. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
‘We will do better': Business director of Dutchie's reacts after being fined for wage theft
Dutchie's Fresh Market and its business director Michael Renkema have been sentenced after pleading guilty to wage theft. CTV's Heather Senoran reports. Dutchie's Fresh Market and its business director Michael Renkema have been sentenced after pleading guilty to wage theft. CTV's Heather Senoran reports. Dutchie's Fresh Market and its business director, Michael Renkema, have been sentenced after more than a year of allegations, protests, orders to pay and court delays. Renkema plead guilty to 13 counts of wage theft under the Employment Standards Act in December 2024. On Friday, a joint submission was filed by the Crown and lawyer for Dutchie's and Renkema. It recommended a $25,000 fine for Dutchie's as a corporation and an additional $7,500 for Renkema alone. Justice Michael Cuthbertson agreed with that sentence. He also decided Renkema and Dutchie's would not have to pay any additional victim surcharges. According to Renkema's lawyer, Rachel Goldenberg, the 13 former employees involved in the case have now been paid. She said more than $10,000 in fees also went to the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Finance. Goldenberg then asked the judge to give Renkema 20 months to pay off the fines. Justice Cuthbertson agreed. Renkema's lawyer also referenced an alleged issue with the company's refrigeration vendor in 2021, which led to financial turmoil for Dutchie's. 'The company faced significant financial losses in the millions of dollars and incurred significant debt,' Goldenberg said. 'The defendants deeply regret that when faced with this sudden loss of financial resources and mounting debt, employees were not paid their wages. The defendants acknowledge and take responsibility for this failure to pay wages, and when faced with this prosecution, did enter a guilty plea.' Two victim impact statements were read in court before the sentencing. One was from a former employee who said he had recently moved to Canada. 'When the payment delays began, I felt betrayed and exploited. I made several efforts to address the situation, sending emails and messages explaining the difficulties I was facing, but no resolution was provided,' the statement read. Justice Cuthbertson said what happened to the former employees wasn't right. 'People lost wages that they needed to pay bills in their life, put food on the table… They were deprived of their livelihood, simply put. I must ensure that Mr. Renkema and the corporation never again put themselves in the position of depriving employees of their wages,' he said. Renkema comments Renkema sent CTV News a statement on the day the sentence was delivered. 'We are deeply sorry for the lengthy process and burden this has been for all involved, especially the employees. Though the Gateway [Kitchener] location sustained losses in the millions, primarily due to poor workmanship of the refrigeration contractor, we understand we have obligations to our employees and our suppliers. It is our goal to continue to honor these obligations. We do thank customers who have supported us in honoring this goal. We will do better as we rebuild.' dutchie's kitchener Dutchie's Fresh Food Market seen on August 19, 2024. (CTV News/Jeff Pickel) According to Renkema's lawyer, the small family grocer first opened its doors 40 years ago. At one time they had multiple stores, but now have one with only 13 employees.
