Canadian 'Cocaine Lawyer' Deepak Paradkar Arrested, Faces US Extradition in FBI Witness Murder Plot

Canadian "Cocaine Lawyer" Deepak Paradkar Arrested in FBI Witness Murder Plot

Deepak Paradkar, a prominent Canadian defense attorney famously known as the "cocaine lawyer" due to his extensive clientele of alleged drug lords, has been apprehended in Canada. He now faces extradition to the United States on serious charges. US authorities accuse Paradkar of complicity in the murder of a crucial FBI witness, who was scheduled to testify against his former client, Ryan Wedding. Wedding, a one-time Canadian Olympic snowboarder, is alleged to have transitioned into a significant international drug trafficker.

Allegations of Fatal Advice

Paradkar, who previously used his "cocaine lawyer" moniker on social media to showcase his clients' acquittals from drug charges, is alleged to have offered chilling counsel to Wedding. According to the indictment, months before the tragic event, Paradkar advised Wedding, "If you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed."

In a grim turn of events, the FBI witness was indeed gunned down in January 2025. The victim suffered five fatal shots to the head at a restaurant in Colombia, confirming the severity of the alleged conspiracy.

The Client: From Olympian to Alleged Drug Lord

Ryan Wedding found himself on the FBI's most-wanted list, suspected of masterminding an extensive drug trafficking operation primarily based out of Mexico. This pursuit intensified after US authorities intercepted a major cocaine shipment in 2024. Wedding was slated for extradition from Mexico on various criminal charges. However, US prosecutors contend that Paradkar's alleged advice—that eliminating the FBI witness would negate the need for his extradition to the US—changed Wedding's trajectory.

Following this alleged counsel, Wedding reportedly orchestrated the witness's location by paying a Canadian crime news website to publish photographs of the witness and his wife. Once identified in Colombia, the witness was subsequently murdered.

Beyond Legal Counsel: An "Integral Member"

The US indictment goes further, detailing that Wedding allegedly compensated Paradkar with luxury watches and additional fees for these illegal services. It posits that Paradkar was not merely providing legal consultations but acted as an "integral member" of Wedding's day-to-day criminal enterprise. Furthermore, the FBI alleges that Paradkar connected Wedding with trusted drug transportation networks and even paid other defense attorneys in Canada and the US to monitor individuals arrested with Wedding’s illicit drugs. This intricate scheme, authorities believe, allowed Paradkar to determine if any individuals were cooperating with law enforcement against Wedding.