In the early hours of August 28, 2024, a long-haul truck carrying steel bars approached the U.S. side of the Blue Water Bridge, which connects Ontario and Michigan. The driver, Iqbal Singh Virk, an owner-operator from Brampton, Ontario, and his passenger, Ranjit Singh Rowal, were stopped by U.S. Customs officers for routine questioning. Both men, Indian citizens with permanent resident status in Canada, denied carrying any illegal items, including drugs or large sums of cash.

However, their routine inspection quickly escalated. Within ten minutes, a Rapiscan X-ray system revealed an unusual compartment in the trailer, leading officers to discover 115 bricks of suspected cocaine, weighing over 124 kilograms. The estimated street value of the drugs was nearly $4 million.

As Virk and Rowal awaited their fate in jail, their case gained significant media attention. Authorities in Los Angeles were investigating a major international drug trafficking operation allegedly led by Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder from Thunder Bay, Ontario. Wedding was identified as the mastermind behind a cocaine distribution network that spanned from Colombia to California and into Canada, operating from a base in Mexico.

Two months after the truckers' arrest, an indictment was unsealed, naming Wedding and 15 others, including Virk and Rowal. The indictment described the group as organizers, traffickers, and transportation experts. The FBI has since compared Wedding to notorious drug lords like Pablo Escobar and El Chapo Guzman.

Court evidence revealed that Virk and Rowal were part of a network of Indo-Canadian trucking firms that facilitated drug transport. Dispatchers working for the cartel would meet drivers in Los Angeles, handing over bricks of cocaine to be hidden in their trucks. These trucks often carried legitimate cargo to disguise their illicit activities, navigating busy border crossings.

In April 2024, Virk agreed to transport cocaine from California back to Canada. However, complications arose when the amount of drugs exceeded the capacity of their hidden compartment. Wedding allegedly sought a reduced transportation fee, leading to a standoff that ultimately resulted in the cancellation of the deal. Unbeknownst to the drivers, the FBI had infiltrated the operation, using a confidential source to monitor communications.

When Virk and Rowal attempted to cross back into Canada, they were stopped again, and authorities discovered a mix of cocaine and heroin in their truck. Both men were arrested and later transferred to California to face charges.

On August 5, 2024, Rowal entered a plea agreement, admitting to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute. Virk followed suit ten days later, both acknowledging their roles in the drug trafficking operation. Their plea deals indicated that while they faced a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, their guilty pleas would likely reduce their sentences.

Both men agreed to forfeit their truck and any property involved in the crime. Rowal's legal team requested the return of his personal items to prepare for his departure from the U.S. after his sentencing. Rowal's lawyer emphasized the emotional significance of the upcoming sentencing, stating he had been counting down the days.

On the eve of Rowal's sentencing, prosecutors informed the court that he would likely face deportation to India due to his conviction. Rowal's attorney criticized the prosecution for publicizing this information, arguing it was unnecessary and harmful.

Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett accepted Rowal's guilty plea and sentenced him to 37 months in prison, recommending he be placed in a facility near the Canadian border. Virk, who also goes by the name Mark, pleaded guilty in September, but his sentencing has been postponed until March. Lawyers for both men were unavailable for comment before the publication deadline.