The Law Society of Ontario has taken the extraordinary step of suspending the law licence of prominent Ontario lawyer Deepak Paradkar. The suspension comes as criminal courts in Canada and the United States grapple with allegations that Paradkar was a member of a violent international cocaine cartel and helped orchestrate the murder of a government witness.
Suspension Granted Amid "Extreme and Serious" Allegations
The regulatory body for the province's lawyers sought the restriction on Friday, December 5, 2025, following Paradkar's arrest last week. He was apprehended as part of a massive international investigation into a narco cartel allegedly led by Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder.
Bernadette Saad, representing the Law Society before its tribunal, argued the suspension was necessary due to the "extreme and serious" nature of the accusations. She stated it was required to reduce a "significant risk of harm" to the public and the administration of justice.
"The lawyer’s status and privilege as a lawyer are integral to the allegations against him," Saad told the tribunal. The suspension temporarily strips Paradkar of his rights and ability to practice law. He remains in custody in a Toronto-area jail and was not present at the hearing, where he was represented by his lawyer, Ravin Pillay.
Pillay informed the tribunal that his client was not contesting the suspension but emphasized that Paradkar denies the allegations, maintains his innocence, and plans to fight the criminal charges in court.
Alleged Role in Cartel Operations and Murder Plot
Authorities allege Paradkar's involvement went far beyond providing legal advice. U.S. prosecutors claim he was "an integral member of the Wedding Drug Trafficking Organization’s day-to-day operations," according to court documents.
Saad summarized the allegations from U.S. filings, which reference 18 specific overt acts allegedly committed by Paradkar to facilitate the criminal conspiracy.
The most shocking accusation detailed in a U.S. indictment is Paradkar's alleged involvement in advising Wedding, and his second-in-command Andrew Clark, to murder a former co-conspirator. That individual had become an FBI cooperating witness against the Wedding organization. The alleged goal was to obstruct the prosecutions of Wedding and Clark.
The witness was subsequently killed, shot five times in the head in a restaurant in Colombia.
Broader Allegations of Cartel Support
Beyond the murder plot, Paradkar is accused of a range of activities in support of the alleged drug trafficking enterprise. These include:
- Collecting confidential information related to seized cocaine shipments and the arrests of drug couriers.
- Helping to set up new distribution networks after these arrests, including by introducing former legal clients to the Wedding organization.
- Allowing Wedding and Clark to secretly listen in on his phone calls with arrested drug trafficking co-conspirators.
- Obtaining and providing confidential legal disclosure related to murders.
Paradkar was arrested on a U.S. indictment and is now facing extradition proceedings to the United States. It is crucial to note that the charges against him have not been proven in court. The Law Society's suspension is an interim measure while the parallel criminal processes unfold in two countries.
