Sacramento, California, USA: Deepak Balwant Paradkar, a Canadian criminal lawyer, and Gursewak Singh Bal, co-founder of the website 'The Dirty News,' are among ten individuals recently arrested in connection with a sprawling drug network spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia, which included the killing of a key witness.

Paradkar allegedly advised Ryan James Wedding, a 44-year-old Canadian living in Mexico and listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, to eliminate a witness to avoid extradition to the U.S. on multiple drug and homicide charges. He is also accused of providing Wedding with court documents and legal discovery he would not normally have access to, as well as helping him gain contact with members and associates of the criminal network, some of whom were under arrest or investigation.

Bal, who co-founded and helped operate 'The Dirty News,' a website later seized by federal authorities, faces charges for allegedly agreeing to withhold reporting on Wedding while sharing the witness’s photo to facilitate the murder.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated, “This announcement reflects the diligent efforts of the FBI and international partners to dismantle violent gang and drug operations.”

He further emphasized, “Ryan Wedding and his network reportedly transported large quantities of cocaine annually from Colombia through Mexico to U.S. streets. Such criminal and violent activities will not be tolerated. This sends a clear message that the FBI is committed to bringing Wedding and his associates to justice.”

The U.S. Department of Justice noted that the arrests are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide campaign leveraging DOJ resources to combat illegal immigration, eradicate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and safeguard communities from violent crime.