GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Seattle Police Department (SPD) veteran ALEX CHAPACKDEE, 44, faces federal drug trafficking charges after being arrested alongside three alleged accomplices in a massive cross-country marijuana smuggling operation. The ring, which transported hundreds of pounds of pot from the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast, has been dismantled by a joint investigation involving federal and local law enforcement.
The DEA, SPD, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad revealed that CHAPACKDEE, along with Tuan Van Le, 42; Phi Nguyen, 32; and Samath Khanphongphane, 38, had been involved in numerous shipments between Seattle and Baltimore since June 2013. The ringleader, Van Le, was also identified as a key player in the conspiracy.
According to authorities, CHAPACKDEE participated in several trips, driving his RV one or both ways, in September, October, and November of 2016. During these trips, he met up with other conspirators at both ends to distribute drugs and collect cash proceeds. Bank records indicate CHAPACKDEE deposited cash in amounts just under $10,000 to avoid detection by law enforcement.
The charges against the accused, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty, include conspiracy to distribute marijuana, which is punishable by a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. This investigation was part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), providing federal funding to support state and local agencies involved.
The case has been handed over to Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi for prosecution, with arrests and search warrants being executed by multiple agencies, including the Port of Seattle Police Department. U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes emphasized that drug trafficking organizations are a priority for law enforcement, noting the particular concern regarding the involvement of a police officer.
For further information, contact Public Affairs Officer Emily Langlie at (206) 276-5288 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov.
Related Federal Cases
- Marijuana Ring Boss Scott Johnson Sentenced to Prison · Washington
- Off-Duty NYPD Officer Kills Man in Washington Heights · Washington
- Off-Duty NYPD Officer Kills Man in Manhattan · Washington
- Williams and Kelly Sentenced in Operation Wild Wild East Heroin Ring · Washington
- Seattle Man Charged with Sex Trafficking · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News