U.S. police officer faces up to 40 years in prison for smuggling hundreds of pounds of marijuana
A Seattle Police Officer was recently arrested in connection with a ring smuggling hundreds of pounds of marijuana from the Seattle area to Baltimore, Maryland. Another three people, including the police officer’s brother-in-law, were arrested.
44-year-old Alex Chapackdee, a 16-year veteran of the Seattle Police Department is accused of conspiracy to distribute marijuana alongside his brother-in-law, 42-year-old Tuan Van Le, and other two men, a Department of Justice press release reads.
An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Seattle Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad revealed that on multiple occasions between June 2013, and April 2017, Le made trips between Seattle and Baltimore. While Le often flew one way or round-trip, other members of the conspiracy made the trip by driving virtually non-stop. The vehicles allegedly carried marijuana to the Baltimore area and the cash proceeds back to Seattle.
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Chapackdee participated in multiple trips driving his RV one or both ways in September, October and November, 2016. Chapackdee, Le and the other men linked up at both ends of the trip, apparently distributing drugs and the cash proceeds. Bank records indicate Chapackdee deposited cash in his account in amounts just under $10,000 thereby avoiding reports to law enforcement.
“The trafficking of hundreds of pounds of marijuana from Washington to the streets of Baltimore will not be tolerated. Drug trafficking organisations that ignore federal and state laws have always been and will continue to be targeted and held to account. The fact that a police officer was involved in this is obviously of particular concern,” U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes said.
Conspiracy to distribute marijuana in these quantities is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison.
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