U.S. documents show Ontario trucker Hardeep Ratte is linked to a sophisticated organized crime network in Dubai and would not hesitate to join it if a Toronto court were to release him on bail. The Crown refused to release the 45-year-old Canadian during his bail hearing 12 days ago and place him in the supervision of his family while awaiting his extradition hearing to the United States.
The FBI Alleges Hardeep Ratte is Linked to Alleged Trafficking Network Led by Former Canadian Olympic Snowboarder Ryan Wedding who is still on the run, apparently in Mexico.
American justice indicted him for allegedly transporting or attempting to transport more than 650 kilos of cocaine from California to Canada in two shipments in March and April 2024.
Hardeep Ratte and his nephew, Gurpreet Singh, are accused of managing the transport of the alleged network.
They were apprehended in Ontario in October 2024 along with two other men: alleged courier Rakhim Ibragimov and alleged hitman Malik Damion Cunningham.
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The defendant’s sister, Harpreet Ratte, is cross-examined by prosecutor Melissa Insanic, as Judge Dineen and the defendant (left) look on during the bail hearing in early January.
Photo : - / Pam Davies
All four men are in custody in the Toronto area awaiting their bail hearing. Hardeep Ratte is the first of four individuals to undergo his bail hearing.
He briefly appeared on Wednesday by videoconference from his prison for the continuation of the proceedings, which have been initiated against him. Six members of his family each offered $200,000 bail to have him released.
Ontario Superior Court Judge Michael Dineen has not yet decided whether or not to release him under strict conditions.
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Ryan James Wedding is wanted by American authorities.
Photo : Associated Press / Damian Dovarganes
According to new court documents, US prosecutors say Ratte represents a substantial risk of leakage
if he were to be released.
It is written there that Hardeep Ratte gained access, through his nephew, to a sophisticated organized crime network in Dubai from which he could easily seek protection if released despite the charges he faces in the United States
.
Incriminating encounter in Toronto
The Crown has as incriminating evidence a recording of the GRCwho learned of a meeting involving Ratte in Toronto on February 22, 2024 and in which his nephew and a collaborating witness participated.
The witness was in direct contact with Ryan Wedding and his right arm, the Canadian Andrew Clark.
US prosecutors allege that Hardeep Ratte agreed during this meeting to transport the cocaine to Wedding at a rate of $220,000 Canadian per load.
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Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding is wanted by American authorities for murder and drug trafficking.
Photo : AP / Damian Dovarganes
A total of 16 individuals, including 10 Canadians, were arrested in the United States for alleged complicity in the alleged transnational criminal network of Ryan Wedding.
The FBI claims that the group allegedly used transport trucks to transport large quantities of cocaine from Colombia throughout North America.
American investigators have further linked the alleged organization to four murders in southern Ontario.
Hardeep Ratte faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the right to parole if he is convicted after his trial in the United States.
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Hardeep Ratte’s lawyer, Ravin Pillay
Photo : - / Pam Davies
His lawyer, Ravin Pillay, suggested in early January that he will invoke the Charter to prevent his client’s extradition, because such a sentence would be unconstitutional under the cruelty section.
Mr. Pillay recalled that the Charter recognizes in Canada the right of any convicted person to request conditional release at the end of their sentence.
The lawyer also said that his client was not at risk of fleeing, since his children live with him in Brampton and he no longer has Indian nationality. [l’Inde refuse de reconnaître les doubles citoyennetés, NDLR].
Hardeep Ratte is due back in court on January 29.
