Former Vice Media Employee Experiences Brief Jail Return During Cocaine Smuggling Appeal
In a dramatic legal development, a former Vice Media employee convicted for his role in an international cocaine smuggling operation spent Wednesday morning behind bars at the Toronto South Detention Centre before being released again on bail. This temporary incarceration occurred during his appeal hearing before three judges at the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Court Proceedings and Bail Conditions
Ali Lalji, 37, surrendered himself to authorities at the detention centre as required by the conditions of his $1-million bail release. The appeal hearing lasted approximately 90 minutes, during which lawyers presented arguments regarding Lalji's conviction for conspiracy to import cocaine. Following the arguments, the judicial panel announced they would reserve their decision, prompting Lalji's lawyer to immediately apply for his client's continued release on bail.
Crown prosecutors raised no objections to the bail application, and a judge agreed to sign the necessary release order. This marked another chapter in Lalji's unusual legal journey, where despite being arrested seven years ago and convicted in 2021, he has remained out on bail since 2019 while awaiting his long-delayed appeal hearing.
The Sensational Cocaine Smuggling Case
The case centers around a sophisticated drug smuggling operation that exploited Vice Media's Toronto headquarters to recruit young interns, models, and musicians as drug mules. These individuals were allegedly tasked with transporting cocaine hidden in suitcase linings during flights from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia.
In December 2015, Australian border guards intercepted five recruited drug mules—four Canadians and one American—at Sydney airport shortly before Christmas. Authorities discovered nearly 40 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $22 million according to Australian officials.
Key Figures and Legal Outcomes
The smuggling operation gained public attention through a National Post investigative feature published in February 2017, which revealed the involvement of Yaroslav Pastukhov, better known by his pen name Slava Pastuk, who served as Vice Media's prominent music editor. Pastukhov played a central role in recruiting the drug mules according to the investigation.
Both Pastukhov and Lalji, who met while working at Vice Media, were arrested for their involvement in the conspiracy. Their legal paths diverged significantly following their arrests:
- Pastukhov pleaded guilty shortly after arrest, received a nine-year sentence, served prison time, and was eventually released on parole
- Lalji contested the charges, underwent a prolonged trial, was convicted and sentenced to nine years, but remained free on bail while awaiting his appeal
Appeal Hearing Focus on Witness Credibility
During Wednesday's appeal hearing, Pastukhov's testimony from Lalji's original trial became a significant point of contention. Pastukhov had been called as a witness during the trial but claimed not to remember details about the smuggling plot or participants' identities. This testimony contradicted detailed accounts he had previously provided in published memoirs and media interviews.
The original trial judge dismissed most of Pastukhov's testimony as unreliable and lacking credibility. How the trial judge handled this witness evidence formed a crucial component of Lalji's appeal arguments before the three-judge panel.
The Court of Appeal for Ontario has now reserved its decision on Lalji's appeal, leaving the former Vice Media employee free on bail while awaiting the court's ruling on whether his conviction will stand or be overturned.
