Accused “Cocaine Lawyer” Offers $5M Pledge and House Arrest in Bid for Bail

TORONTO — An Ontario attorney accused of serving as a key adviser to a violent, cross-continental drug trafficking ring told a Superior Court judge Wednesday that he is prepared to submit to the “most stringent” supervision plan of his career if released on bail.

Deepak Paradkar, 62, appeared in a downtown Toronto courtroom for a bail hearing following his arrest last month under the Extradition Act. US authorities allege Paradkar, who reportedly utilized the alias “the cocaine lawyer,” played a critical role in the criminal organization led by former Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding.

Wearing a blue blazer and sporting a grey moustache, Paradkar appeared composed, smiling at family members in the gallery before taking the witness stand.

The Allegations

US prosecutors accuse Paradkar of leveraging his position to provide Wedding with confidential evidence and court documents. The most serious allegations involve Paradkar advising Wedding to murder a key witness to prevent the extradition of Wedding and his alleged second-in-command, Andrew Clark.

That witness was subsequently shot dead at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, on Jan. 31, 2024.

Paradkar’s license to practice law was suspended by the Law Society of Ontario last week. He denies all allegations, which have not yet been tested in court, and maintains his innocence.

The Case for Detention

During the hearing, Crown attorneys argued before Superior Court Justice Peter Bawden that Paradkar’s detention is necessary due to flight risk and public safety concerns.

An affidavit filed in Quebec Superior Court alleges that Paradkar “significantly profited” from the Wedding organization, potentially giving him access to funds that could facilitate escape. Furthermore, US filings state that Paradkar faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison if convicted, significantly increasing the incentive to flee.

“Paradkar advising Wedding to ‘kill’ the confidential human source… makes him a danger to the public if he advises Wedding to do the same about all the co-conspirators,” the affidavit reads.

The Defense Proposal

Paradkar argued he poses no flight risk, noting he has no ties to his native India and has not visited the country since 1997. He cited significant health concerns, including Type 2 diabetes and a history of heart surgery, describing his current conditions at the Toronto South Detention Centre as “terrible.”

“I’ve been involved in extradition cases. I know it’s a long haul,” Paradkar told the court. “I believe in the justice system and I’m committed to seeing it through.”

His proposed release plan includes:

• A $5-million pledge backed by himself and his wife.
• An additional $250,000 pledge from his wife’s cousin.
• 24/7 house arrest with GPS monitoring.
• A total ban on electronic devices, barring supervised use of his wife’s phone for legal communication.
• Surrender of his passport within 48 hours.

The Wedding Connection

The proceedings against Paradkar are part of a broader crackdown on the network allegedly run by Ryan Wedding, 44. FBI Director Kash Patel has characterized Wedding as a “modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar.”

Wedding remains a fugitive, with the US State Department offering a $15-million reward for information leading to his capture. Intelligence suggests he is currently hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel and may have altered his appearance to evade authorities.

The bail hearing is scheduled to continue Thursday.