Alleged drug smuggler for Canadian ex-Olympian could flee if granted bail, prosecutors say
U.S. prosecutors have issued a warning about a man from the Toronto area who stands accused of orchestrating multimillion-dollar cocaine shipments for a dangerous drug ring allegedly led by former Olympian Ryan Wedding. Hardeep Ratte, a resident of Brampton, Ontario, appeared in a Toronto court seeking bail as he awaits extradition proceedings to the United States. The charges against him in California involve drug trafficking, with claims that he was the main coordinator for smuggling cocaine shipments from Los Angeles to Canada on behalf of Wedding’s criminal enterprise.
Ratte was apprehended in October following the identification of 10 Canadians as accomplices in Wedding’s illicit activities. The group is believed to have used transport trucks to move large quantities of Colombian cocaine across North America. Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder who represented Team Canada in the 2002 Winter Games, remains at large. Investigators have linked his criminal organization to four murders in southern Ontario, including the tragic shooting of an Indian couple in a case of mistaken identity.
During his court appearance, Ratte, 46, sported a grey Roots Canada T-shirt and waved at his family members seated in the courtroom. Six relatives have pledged $200,000 each for his bail and potential release on house arrest pending the extradition hearing. However, U.S. prosecutors have expressed concerns about Ratte’s flight risk if he is granted bail, citing his potential access to a criminal network in Dubai through his nephew.
Prosecutors allege that Ratte, through his nephew Gurpreet Singh, has ties to an organized crime network in Dubai that could provide him with protection if he were to evade prosecution in the United States. They claim that Ratte oversaw the transportation of over 650 kilograms of cocaine for Wedding’s syndicate between January and August 2024, with a street value in Los Angeles ranging from $8.45 million to $9.1 million US. Authorities suspect Wedding may be hiding in Mexico, a location where Ratte is believed to have made frequent trips.
The prosecution argues that Ratte’s involvement in drug trafficking poses a danger to the community and that he should not be released on bail. Evidence presented includes recordings of a meeting in Toronto where Ratte, Singh, and a cooperating witness discussed moving cocaine for Wedding at a set price per shipment. Ratte’s defense attorney maintains his client’s innocence and questions the clarity of the video evidence from the meeting.
Ratte’s bail hearing is set to continue, with the prosecution emphasizing the potential consequences of his release. The case underscores the complexities of international drug trafficking networks and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating transnational crime.
