A truck driver from the Toronto area has been sentenced to over six years in a U.S. federal prison for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Canada. Ranjit Singh Rowal, 65, was linked to the alleged drug operation of fugitive Ryan Wedding. This case is part of a larger FBI investigation that has resulted in multiple arrests.

Rowal is the first Canadian to be sentenced in connection with a two-year investigation into Wedding and his associates. The investigation has revealed a complex, multinational drug trafficking network valued at approximately $1 billion. This network reportedly uses transport trucks to move Colombian cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs from Southern California to various destinations in Canada and the U.S.

Rowal was arrested in August 2024 while attempting to cross the Blue Water Bridge from Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario. He was found with 95 kilograms of cocaine and 20 kilograms of heroin hidden in a secret compartment of his truck's trailer. Alongside him was another driver, Iqbal Singh Virk, who also faces charges.

In U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Rowal was sentenced to six years and two months after pleading guilty to two counts related to a cocaine distribution conspiracy. U.S. prosecutors indicated that Rowal, an Indian citizen, is likely to have his Canadian permanent residency revoked due to his criminal activities. The court filing stated that Rowal is considered inadmissible to Canada for "serious criminality."

Virk, 57, has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in March. Both men are named in a grand jury indictment that identifies Wedding, 44, as the leader of a violent, transnational criminal organization. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced additional charges against Wedding, who is currently one of the FBI's ten most-wanted fugitives and is believed to be hiding in Mexico.

The indictment alleges that Wedding's network collaborates with Mexican drug cartels to transport large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico. The drugs are then moved to the U.S. and Canada using hired truckers. Last week, eight individuals in Canada were arrested in connection with this case, including alleged money launderers and associates of Wedding.

Court documents reveal that Rowal and Virk attempted to conceal their drug smuggling by carrying legal goods and documentation. However, U.S. border agents conducted a secondary inspection of their truck, which led to the discovery of the hidden compartment containing drugs.

The investigation has also uncovered internal disputes within the drug trafficking network. In May 2024, a planned shipment of cocaine was canceled due to disagreements over payment. Rowal and Virk had expected to transport a larger load but were only able to accommodate a smaller shipment.

As the investigation continues, authorities remain focused on dismantling the operations of Ryan Wedding and his associates, who are implicated in serious criminal activities, including multiple murders. The case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating drug trafficking across borders.