A Canadian crime blogger Gursewak Singh Bal of Punjabi origin has been arrested in connection with a sweeping international investigation into a drug trafficking network allegedly run by former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding.
Arrest in US–Canada Joint Operation
The blogger, 31-year-old Gursewak Singh Bal from Mississauga, was one of seven Canadians taken into custody during coordinated police searches under Operation Giant Slalom, a joint effort between U.S. and Canadian authorities. Investigators describe the operation as one of the most aggressive law enforcement crackdowns targeting cross-border organized crime in recent years.
Bal is known online as the co-founder and operator of the crime reporting platform Dirty Newz, which authorities say became a tool used to identify or intimidate targets linked to the criminal network.
Paid to Target Witness, Prosecutors Claim
Court records allege Bal was paid $10,000 to avoid reporting on certain individuals tied to the drug enterprise. Instead, prosecutors say he was later given a photograph of a key witness and paid to publish it publicly — allowing members of the drug ring to locate him.
The individual, identified as Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, was cooperating with investigators. He was later shot and killed in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.
Social Media Posts Under Investigation
According to the indictment, Bal posted a photo of the witness on Instagram along with a caption suggesting the individual had betrayed a powerful criminal network.
Weeks after the murder, another post allegedly appeared from Bal’s account showing an image from the crime scene with the caption:
“Victim A down… BOOM! Headshot.”
Investigators argue these posts were not journalism, but part of a coordinated plan to silence and eliminate witnesses.
Website Seized, Extradition Requested
Police have now seized the Dirty Newz website under a federal warrant. Evidence submitted in court reportedly includes encrypted communications, social media activity and messages from an undercover RCMP officer who contacted Bal months before the arrests.
The United States is now seeking Bal’s extradition to face multiple charges, including:
- Conspiracy to commit murder
- Racketeering
- Participation in a transnational drug trafficking operation
If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Alleged Drug Kingpin Still Fugitive
While several individuals connected to the drug operation — including Vancouver-based lawyer Deepak Paradkar — have been arrested, authorities say the network’s alleged leader, Ryan Wedding, remains on the run.
Officials believe Wedding is being protected by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The U.S. State Department has increased the reward for information leading to his arrest to $15 million, underscoring the scale of the case and the risk associated with capturing him.
Key Points
- Canadian crime blogger arrested in joint U.S.–Canadian operation
- Accused of helping target a protected witness later murdered in Colombia
- Website seized and encrypted messages recovered as evidence
- U.S. government seeking Bal’s extradition
- Alleged cartel leader still at large with a $15 million reward posted
The arrest of Punjabi-origin blogger Gursewak Singh Bal has opened a troubling chapter in the intersection of online influence, organized crime and witness intimidation. As authorities seek extradition and the investigation widens, more arrests and revelations are expected in the coming months.