Major International Drug Bust Leads to Calgary Arrest
A Calgary man previously identified by police as a significant drug kingpin has been apprehended as part of a substantial United States drug investigation with connections to a witness murder in Colombia and a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder.
Allistair Chapman, 33, appeared in Calgary Court of King's Bench on Tuesday, where his extradition hearing to the United States was adjourned until Friday. Chapman faces serious charges outlined in a provisional arrest warrant, including conspiracy to export cocaine and murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug-related crimes.
Connections to Olympic Athlete and Mexican Cartels
Court documents reveal that Chapman was the only Calgarian named by the U.S. Department of Justice in an ongoing investigation focusing on former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding. American authorities believe Wedding is currently being protected by a drug cartel in Mexico.
This arrest stems from Operation Giant Slalom, a coordinated international effort targeting drug trafficking networks with ties across North America. The investigation has uncovered connections between Canadian individuals and powerful Mexican criminal organizations.
Previous Calgary Charges and Hockey Background
Chapman is no stranger to law enforcement attention. He was previously arrested and charged in Calgary following an extensive police investigation triggered by a significant 2016 drug bust in Utah. During that incident, authorities intercepted three drug couriers and discovered 100 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a pickup truck.
The Calgary police investigation subsequently linked Chapman's alleged organization to a double homicide that occurred outside a southeast grocery store on May 21, 2017. At that time, police publicly identified Chapman as the suspected leader of the drug operation.
Interestingly, Chapman has a background in junior hockey, having played for both the Calgary Royals and the Drayton Valley Thunder during the 2008-09 AJHL season. Despite his athletic background, law enforcement sources described him as introverted and generally disliked by other gang members, though his alleged connections to Mexican cartels made him a significant figure in the drug trade.
All previous Calgary charges against Chapman and other group members were eventually dismissed in July 2020 when Justice Richard Neufeld ruled that the 34-month delay between their charges and the scheduled trial conclusion violated their right to a timely trial.
Defence lawyer Chad Haggerty, who represented Chapman during Tuesday's court appearance before Justice Shane Parker, declined to comment on the current case as the extradition process moves forward.
