A senior lawyer from Ontario, accused of playing a significant role in an international drug trafficking operation, has been granted bail as he awaits his extradition hearing.
Deepak Paradkar, aged 62, is among the group of Canadians recently arrested for extradition to the United States in connection with an FBI probe targeting the former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who is now facing charges of heading a violent criminal group.
According to the allegations, the lawyer from Thornhill, Ontario, provided advice to Wedding regarding the murder of a federal witness, introduced him to drug dealers overseeing the transport of illegal substances across North America, and oversaw intelligence activities following drug seizures by law enforcement agencies.
Federal prosecutors have raised concerns about Paradkar potentially fleeing if released on bail, emphasizing the severe penalties he could face if convicted in the U.S. His defense attorney, on the other hand, has argued that Paradkar has strong family connections and has pledged significant financial assets to secure his release.
In his bail proposal, Paradkar has offered to adhere to strict conditions, including 24/7 house arrest, GPS monitoring, and restricted use of electronic devices only in the presence of designated individuals.