The legal team representing alleged Calgary drug kingpin Allistair Chapman is preparing to seek his release on bail while he awaits an extradition hearing to the United States. Chapman is wanted by U.S. authorities in connection with a major drug investigation linked to former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding.
Bail Bid Stalled by Missing Paperwork
During a court appearance on Friday, December 19, 2025, before Justice Shane Parker, defence counsel Gavin Wolch revealed that the bail application is being hindered. American and Canadian officials have yet to provide the necessary legal documentation required to proceed with a hearing for judicial interim release.
Wolch, along with lawyers Noel O’Brien and Chad Haggerty, stated they are still awaiting the "record of the case" and an "authority to proceed." The record of the case is a document from the United States summarizing the allegations and evidence against Chapman. The authority to proceed is the official approval from the Canadian Department of Justice for the extradition application to move forward.
Delays Expected Until the New Year
Department of Justice lawyer Colin LaRoche informed the court that neither document is expected to be provided until early 2025. "The deadline for a record of the case and authority to proceed is not until February," LaRoche said. "We have no information that we’ll receive anything before February at this point."
Despite this timeline, Wolch requested the case return to Calgary Court of King’s Bench on January 23. The hope is that some information may be available by then to facilitate the bail process. Justice Parker agreed to the date, scheduling the next appearance to potentially set dates for either the extradition hearing, a bail application, or both.
Background of the Case and Previous Charges
Allistair Chapman, 33, was arrested last month in connection with a significant U.S. drug bust. The investigation is tied to former Olympian Ryan Wedding and the murder of a witness in Colombia. Chapman is the only Calgarian named by the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with the ongoing probe into Wedding, whom American authorities believe is being harboured by a cartel in Mexico.
According to a provisional arrest warrant, Chapman faces charges in the United States including conspiracy to import cocaine and murder. He was previously identified as the accused ringleader of the Calgary drug cartel at the centre of ALERT's "Project Arbour."
Chapman has a history with the Alberta justice system. He was previously arrested and charged in Calgary following a lengthy police investigation that began after a major 2016 drug bust in Utah. In that incident, police found 100 kilograms of methamphetamine in a pickup truck. Those charges were ultimately stayed in 2020 after a judge ruled the 34-month delay to his scheduled trial violated his right to a timely hearing.
Chapman also has a background in junior hockey, having played for both the Calgary Royals and the Drayton Valley Thunder of the AJHL during the 2008-09 season.
