Murdered Brampton man a victim of former Olympic snowboarder’s international drug ring, police say

Police have identified a man shot to death in Brampton earlier this year and say he was one of several people killed in a drug-running and murder-for-hire plot led by a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder.

On May 18, Brampton resident Mohammed Zafar was found suffering from gunshot wounds at a home in the area of Mississauga Road and Sandalwood Parkway, Peel Regional Police say.

The unidentified 39-year-old from Brampton was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he was later pronounced dead.

No motive or suspect description was released at the time, but police have now released the victim’s name and say he was the target of a transnational drug trafficking operation that’s also tied to the double murder of a couple in Caledon and a killing earlier this year in Mississauga.

Peel police confirm that Mohammed Zafar was the man killed in the May 18 shooting and that Canadian citizens Ryan James Wedding, 43, and Andrew Clark, 34, have been charged with his murder following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday that Wedding, a member of the 2002 Canadian Winter Olympic Team in Salt Lake City, is wanted in connection to a drug-running operation linked to the shooting deaths of Zafar, and Caledon couple Jagtar Singh and Harbhajan Kaur.

Clark was arrested on Oct. 8 in Mexico, but Wedding is still on the run and wanted by investigators in both the U.S. and Canada.

Both Wedding and Clark have been charged with eight felonies in the U.S., including two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to export cocaine, and three counts of murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime.

The FBI says the former Olympian is the indictment’s lead defendant and has multiple aliases, including “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy.” A US$50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest and extradition to the U.S.

Former Canadian Olympic athlete Ryan James Wedding is wanted by the FBI in connection to a double homicide in Caledon in 2023.

Some of the drugs seized by the FBI in a transnational drug trafficking investigation. (Photo: The FBI)

Another Canadian, Malik Damion Cunningham, has been charged in connection to an April 1 murder in Mississauga of which the details have not been released. Niagara police also say the three Canadian suspects are facing charges in connection with the death of 29-year-old Randy Fader.

The FBI says Wedding and others conspired to ship hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Southern California to Canada through a Canada-based drug transportation network.

U.S. authorities say the killings of Caledon couple Jagtar Singh and Harbhajan Kaur last year were a “retaliation for a stolen drug shipment.” The OPP believes the family were mistakenly targeted by the killers. They were visited by Peel police officers just days before the shooting.

The couple’s daughter Jaspreet Kaur was also seriously injured in the attack and reportedly shot 13 times.

Wedding ranked 24th when he competed in the Parallel Giant Slalom event at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. It was his only showing as a member of the Canadian Olympic Team.

Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Peel Regional Police by calling 905-453-3311. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.

When you contact Crime Stoppers you stay anonymous, never have to testify, and could receive a $2,000 reward.