A Maine man has admitted to his role in a vast drug trafficking operation, pleading guilty to federal charges in a Boston courtroom. Emil Dzabiev, 44, of Scarborough, Maine, faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The plea is part of a larger case involving a network accused of spreading methamphetamine throughout New England.
In a press release posted on the Department of Justice website, officials describe how Dzabiev’s guilty plea relates to the seizure of over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine. Law enforcement also confiscated an AK-47, a Glock without a serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and more than 4,200 rounds of ammunition during their investigation. These confiscations are part of efforts to disrupt and to dismantle major criminal operations that threaten the safety and stability of communities.
Dzabiev's arrest was tied to that of Reshat Alkayisi, identified as a main distributor in the trafficking ring. Dzabiev reportedly purchased methamphetamine from Alkayisi on a regular basis, redistributing it within the state of Maine. Evidence against him included being caught with about 455 grams of pure methamphetamine following a meeting with Alkayisi in May 2021.
Dzabiev is not alone in facing repercussions for his involvement; he is the 10th defendant to plead guilty in this sprawling case. As reported by the Department of Justice, Alkayisi has already entered a guilty plea and is slated to be sentenced on July 11, 2024. This case is a cog in a larger machine, part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation intent on using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to combat high-level criminal organizations.
U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton has set Dzabiev's sentencing for October 2, 2024. In the interim, the man from Maine remains a custodian of the state, his fate, like that of his freedom, hanging in the balance of a legal system grappling ceaselessly with the scourge of narcotics. The case against the remaining defendant continues, with the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
