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- calendar_today October 8, 2026
Toronto-Area Man Sentenced for Smuggling Cocaine
Rakhim Ibragimov, a Toronto-area resident, has been sentenced to 68 months in a U.S. prison after pleading guilty to smuggling cocaine for a drug network allegedly tied to former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. The sentencing followed a plea agreement and court proceedings in the Central District of California.
Plea Deal Details and Drug Trafficking Charge
Ibragimov, born in Uzbekistan and also known as the “Russian” or “George” to associates, admitted guilt on a charge of intending to distribute 375 kilograms of cocaine. According to the plea agreement filed in June, the drug shipment was destined for transport to Canada. This case highlights an extensive drug trafficking operation that authorities allege involved several co-conspirators across multiple countries.
Sentencing and Supervised Release Conditions
The sentence, handed down by U.S. federal Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, consists of 68 months — just over five and a half years — in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. As a condition of his release, Ibragimov will undergo periodic drug testing and participate in substance abuse counseling, as indicated by court records.
Investigation and Arrest Timeline
According to an agreed statement of facts in Ibragimov’s plea deal, U.S. authorities apprehended him in April 2024 after he traveled from Canada to California to oversee the drug shipment. Though initially detained, he was allowed to return to Ontario. However, Toronto police arrested Ibragimov again in October 2024.
Around the same period, law enforcement in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Colombia launched coordinated actions against more than a dozen alleged co-conspirators of Ryan Wedding. The criminal charges in these cases ranged from drug trafficking to murder. At the time of these arrests, Wedding was still at large, but he was apprehended earlier in 2026 after spending a decade as a fugitive.
Status of Ryan Wedding and Connections to the Network
While Ibragimov’s plea agreement does not specifically mention Ryan Wedding, an indictment document lists both Wedding and Ibragimov alongside other suspected members of the drug network. U.S. officials have alleged that Wedding, a former Olympian, played a significant role in the transnational operation. Details continue to emerge about his alleged Canadian associates, including legal and operational counsel.
Extradition and Time Served in Canada
Ibragimov agreed to be extradited to the U.S. around a year after his arrest. He spent approximately a year at the Toronto South Detention Centre before extradition, as noted in court records. His lawyer, Humberto Diaz, argued in a supplemental sentencing filing that the time served in Ontario should count toward a reduced sentence, and further suggested a reduced sentence due to Ibragimov's “mitigating role” in the offence. CBC News has reached out to Diaz for further comment.
Continuing Investigation
This case is part of a broader investigation into international drug smuggling and trafficking networks allegedly linked to high-profile figures. The outcome of Ibragimov’s plea deal and sentencing underscores the cross-border collaboration in prosecuting such criminal charges, as well as the ongoing attention to the scope of the drug network’s alleged activities.
Source: cbc.ca.
