Law enforcement is steadily dismantling the alleged criminal empire of former Olympian Ryan Wedding. The latest development involves Rakhim Ibragimov, a Toronto man known as 'Russian' or 'George,' who has reportedly taken a plea deal in Los Angeles for his role in a plot to smuggle 375 kilograms of cocaine into Canada.
Ibragimov's Arrest and Plea
Ibragimov, born in Uzbekistan and residing in Toronto, was arrested by U.S. authorities in April 2024 after traveling to Los Angeles to oversee the next phase of the cocaine shipment. Initially released, he was rearrested in Toronto in October 2024 during a sweep that netted over a dozen alleged co-conspirators of Wedding in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia. Charges included drug trafficking and murder.
Wedding, who was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list in November with a $15 million bounty, was arrested in Mexico City in January after more than a decade on the run. According to the CBC, Ibragimov's role was logistical, ensuring smooth passage of cocaine from Southern California into Canada. Investigators say Los Angeles was the hub of Wedding's $1-billion cocaine and fentanyl operation.
Ibragimov was caught loading boxes of cocaine into his car and is expected to formally plead guilty on July 8.
Blue Water Bridge Cocaine Bust
Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted 133 pounds of cocaine near the Blue Water Bridge on Thursday. The drugs were found in 55 shrink-wrapped bricks concealed in two cardboard boxes in a truck heading to Canada. The driver, an Indian national, faces federal prosecution.
In a related case, Ranjit Singh, 33, also an Indian national, pleaded not guilty to importing cocaine and possession for trafficking. On April 26, 2024, Canadian authorities found 40 kilograms of cocaine worth up to $4.8 million in two Home Depot boxes in his tractor-trailer on the Canadian side of the bridge. Singh claims someone planted the drugs while he was at a truck yard in Lansing, Michigan, where he saw a mysterious man. He testified that he left his trailer unattended for 10 to 15 minutes and did not check the seals before leaving. The trial continues.
