PHOTOS: Over 1,000 kilos of drugs seized in ex-Olympian’s alleged drug ring leads to charges for 3 Brampton men

Three men from Brampton are among the 10 Canadians charged in an international drug smuggling ring that police say is linked to multiple murders in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon.

The details come from the U.S. Department of Justice, which says it made multiple arrests in a drug-running operation that trafficked hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Southern California to Canada.

Sixteen people, including 10 Canadians, have been named as defendants in the case. Three of the accused are from Brampton while a former Canadian Olympian has been charged with multiple murders investigators say are tied to the crime ring.

The RCMP says the crime network was linked to Mexican cartels and had trafficked methamphetamine and cocaine from Central and South America into the U.S., Canada, and overseas.

Hardeep Ratte, Iqbal Singh Virk, and Ranjit Singh Rowal, all of Brampton, have been arrested in connection to the drug trafficking operation, the United States Attorney’s Office confirmed to INsauga.com.

The network’s alleged ringleader was Ryan James Wedding, a member of the 2002 Canadian Winter Olympic Team in Salt Lake City, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI released pictures of some of the drugs and evidence seized by investigators. Police say over 1,000 kilograms of drugs were seized during the investigation dubbed Operation Giant Slalom due to Wedding’s past as a winter Olympic athlete.

The FBI says Wedding and Andrew Clark, another Canadian, ordered the deaths of Caledon couple Jagtar Singh and Harbhajan Kaur and Brampton resident Mohammed Zafar in “retaliation for a stolen drug shipment.” But the victims weren’t the intended targets of the hitjobs and were killed by mistake, the OPP has said.

Clark was arrested earlier this month in Mexico but police say Wedding is still on the run and wanted by investigators in both the U.S. and Canada.

The FBI says the former Olympian is the lead defendant in the case 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.

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.

Niagara police also put out a press release regarding the case, saying that three Canadian suspects–Wedding, Clark and Malik Cunningham, 23–are facing charges in connection with the death of 29-year-old Randy Fader. Police say Fader was found with life-threatening injuries in Niagara Falls on April 1.

In addition to charges of running a criminal enterprise and conspiring to possess, distribute and export cocaine, Clark is also accused in an April 1 murder in Mississauga, details of which have not been released.

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.