Gursewak Bal, Punjabi-origin crime blogger in Canada, ‘was paid by drug network to publish pics of witnesses online to help locate them’

Canadian and US authorities have arrested Mississauga-based crime blogger Gursewak Singh Bal, 31, as part of “Operation Giant Slalom,” a large-scale investigation targeting an alleged drug empire linked to fugitive ex-Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding.

According to US court filings and statements released by Canadian and American law-enforcement agencies, Bal — co-founder of the crime-focused website The Dirty Newz — is accused of using his social media platforms to expose a protected witness connected to Wedding’s alleged cocaine-smuggling network.

Authorities allege Bal was paid $10,000 to publish the witness’s photograph, a move prosecutors say contributed to the victim’s eventual killing in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025.

One indictment cites two Instagram posts, including a November 2024 story referring to the witness as a “rat,” and a January 31, 2025 post showing part of the crime scene with the caption “BOOM! Headshot.” None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Bal was among seven Canadians arrested on November 19 in coordinated raids, which also involved the seizure of The Dirty Newz under a federal warrant. The U.S. is seeking his extradition on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, and drug trafficking, offences that carry potential life sentences.

Wedding remains at large and is believed by officials to be hiding in Mexico under the protection of cartel operatives. The U.S. State Department has increased the reward for information leading to his capture to $15 million.

Key points on How Gursewak Singh Bal allegedly operated

Used his crime-blog/social media platform as leverage

Bal was the co-founder/operator of The Dirty Newz, described by authorities as an “urban news outlet.”

According to the indictment, he was allegedly paid not to post information about Ryan Wedding and another associate.

Instead, he was allegedly paid to publish identifying information about a protected witness.

Allegedly weaponised doxxing-style posts

Officials claim Bal posted the photograph of a key witness on social media to help locate him.

The indictment says this was done with the understanding that the witness would be found and killed.

Alleged direct involvement in posts surrounding the witness’s murder

According to the US DOJ filing referenced in the reports, Bal reportedly posted on November 5, 2024, a story naming the witness as a “rat” and claiming he would likely “never be found again.”

After the witness was murdered in Medellín, Colombia, in January 2025, Bal allegedly posted an Instagram story showing part of the crime scene with captions such as:

“[Victim A] down…”

“BOOM! Headshot”.

Alleged communications with co-accused through encrypted channels

Yahoo News and other reports state that evidence includes encrypted messages seized by the FBI and RCMP.

These communications reportedly link Bal to the broader operation and the actions taken against the witness.

Alleged interactions with undercover law enforcement

Filings quoted say an undercover RCMP officer contacted Bal in August 2025, as investigators closed in.

This suggests authorities were monitoring his activities and communications directly by that stage.

Connection to larger criminal enterprise (as alleged)

Authorities describe Bal as part of a group allegedly assisting Ryan Wedding’s transnational cocaine trafficking network.

He is accused of using his media platform to support activities tied to what officials call a “narco-terrorism” operation.

US authorities are seeking his extradition on charges including:

conspiracy to commit murder

racketeering

drug-trafficking connections

Seizure of his website by U.S. authorities

CityNews reports that The Dirty Newz was seized under a federal warrant, indicating investigators consider the platform itself part of the alleged criminal activity.