AI Generated Summary
- Gursewak Singh Bal, 31, a Punjabi-origin digital crime commentator and co-founder of the controversial website Dirty Newz, was taken into custody on November 19 as part of “Operation Giant Slalom,” a coordinated series of raids described by investigators as one of the most significant crackdowns on organized narco-crime in recent history.
- According to court filings and law enforcement briefings, Bal is accused of using his platform and social media presence to assist the criminal organisation by exposing the identity and whereabouts of key witnesses.
- Investigators claim Bal posted content that led to the fatal shooting of a protected witness, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, who was killed at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.
Canadian and American law enforcement agencies have jointly arrested a prominent Mississauga-based blogger in a sweeping operation targeting an alleged international cocaine smuggling and murder-for-hire network led by former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding.
Gursewak Singh Bal, 31, a Punjabi-origin digital crime commentator and co-founder of the controversial website Dirty Newz, was taken into custody on November 19 as part of “Operation Giant Slalom,” a coordinated series of raids described by investigators as one of the most significant crackdowns on organized narco-crime in recent history.
According to court filings and law enforcement briefings, Bal is accused of using his platform and social media presence to assist the criminal organisation by exposing the identity and whereabouts of key witnesses. Authorities allege that he accepted financial incentives to suppress reporting on the network’s operations while instead broadcasting identifying details of individuals cooperating with police.
Investigators claim Bal posted content that led to the fatal shooting of a protected witness, Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, who was killed at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025. The posts allegedly included photographs and captions suggesting the victim had betrayed the crime syndicate, effectively marking him as a target.
Following Bal’s arrest, federal authorities executed a warrant to seize the Dirty Newz website, citing its use as a tool for intimidation and facilitating violent crime. Both the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reportedly recovered encrypted communications and social media records that form a significant part of the prosecution’s case.
Officials say Bal and others linked to the operation face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, and involvement in international drug trafficking. If convicted, they could receive life sentences under U.S. federal law.
Bal is one of seven individuals detained in Canada in connection with the alleged syndicate, including legal professionals accused of aiding the criminal enterprise. The United States Department of Justice has initiated extradition proceedings to bring the accused to trial south of the border.
Ryan Wedding, identified by authorities as the mastermind behind the network, remains at large. Described as both highly dangerous and financially powerful, he is believed to be under the protection of cartel operatives in Mexico. The U.S. State Department has raised the reward for information leading to his capture to $15 million.
Officials have described Operation Giant Slalom as an unprecedented effort to dismantle transnational criminal organisations operating across North America and beyond. The case has raised serious concerns about the misuse of digital platforms and online influence in facilitating organised violence.
As investigations continue, authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any information that could assist in locating remaining suspects or preventing further acts of violence.
