Man sentenced for role in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine drug ring after 160+ lbs of pure meth, guns, 4,200+ rounds of ammo seized

BOSTON – A member of a nationwide drug trafficking ring was sentenced in federal court in Boston for drug trafficking charges. During the investigation, over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 44-year-old Emil Dzabiev of Scarborough, Maine was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 121 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2024, Dzabiev pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Dzabiev was arrested and charged along with seven others in July 2021 and was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment that added an additional three defendants in September 2021.

In late 2020, Reshat Alkayisi was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. Dzabiev was identified as one of Alkayisi’s regular customers who routinely purchased methamphetamine and redistributed it in Maine. In May 2021, Dzabiev was stopped after a meeting with Alkayisi and found in possession of approximately 455 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine in his vehicle.

Alkayisi pleaded guilty in April 2024 and in September 2024 sentenced to 23 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Dzabiev is the 8th defendant to be sentenced in the case. All remaining defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and the Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.