Ontario truckers smuggling cocaine have pleaded guilty to charges tied to fugitive Ryan Wedding’s drug trafficking operation. Iqbal Singh Virk and Ranjit Singh Rowal, both from the Toronto area, are the first Canadians to sign plea deals in connection with this transnational drug conspiracy. Their arrests follow an FBI investigation, Operation Giant Slalom, which targets Wedding’s network.
Truckers Smuggling Cocaine for Fugitive Ryan Wedding
Virk and Rowal played a significant role in smuggling cocaine from California to Ontario as part of Wedding’s network. In August 2024, U.S. authorities arrested them after they attempted to cross the Blue Water Bridge with 95 kg of cocaine and 20 kg of heroin hidden in a secret compartment in their truck.
Operation Giant Slalom: Uncovering the Smuggling Network
The FBI’s Operation Giant Slalom aimed to dismantle Wedding’s drug trafficking network, which has been responsible for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl across North America. Investigators have connected the network to multiple murders in Ontario.
Wedding, once an Olympic snowboarder, remains one of the FBI’s most-wanted fugitives, with a $10 million reward for information that leads to his capture.
Plea Deals and Charges for Smuggling Cocaine
Virk and Rowal have agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, facing potential life sentences. Both men are permanent residents of Canada, originally from India. They worked for Wedding’s criminal operation, moving cocaine and other drugs between the U.S. and Canada. FBI agents arrested them after detecting the hidden compartment in their truck with X-ray scanners and sniffer dogs.
Details of the Smuggling Operation
At one point, Virk and Rowal expected to transport 347 kg of cocaine, but the load was reduced to 250 kg. Despite the change, Wedding offered them $150,000 Cdn to move the shipment, which was less than the original $220,000. This disagreement led to some shipments being canceled.
Ryan Wedding’s Ongoing Criminal Network
Despite the arrests of Virk and Rowal, Wedding’s network continues to operate. Investigators believe Wedding is hiding in central Mexico, possibly under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel. Recent drug busts in Peel Region show that his network remains active and continues smuggling drugs across Canada.
