A Canadian lawyer from Ontario, accused of being a key player in a global drug trafficking network, has been granted bail as he awaits his extradition hearing.
Deepak Paradkar, aged 62, is among the individuals arrested in connection with a U.S. investigation led by the FBI targeting Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder now facing allegations of leading a violent criminal group.
Paradkar allegedly provided legal advice to Wedding regarding the murder of a federal witness, introduced him to drug smugglers operating across North America, and supervised intelligence operations following drug seizures by law enforcement.
While federal prosecutors express concerns about Paradkar potentially fleeing due to the severe legal consequences he faces, his defense attorney argues that he has strong family ties and has already made significant financial commitments to secure his release.
In a bid for bail, Paradkar has proposed stringent conditions for his release, including 24/7 house arrest, GPS tracking, and restricted access to electronic devices except in the presence of approved individuals.