Canadian on Homeland Security’s Most Wanted List Extradited and Convicted of Drug Trafficking Charges

DETROIT – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges in the trial of a Canadian man dealing drugs in the United States, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Field Division.

Following a six-day trial before United States District Judge Sean F. Cox, Khaophone Sychantha, 43, a dual citizen of Laos and Canada, was convicted of one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, ecstasy, and BZP, one count of possession of methamphetamine, ecstasy, and BZP with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of ecstasy and BZP with intent to distribute.

Evidence at trial showed that Sychantha led an organization that directed several couriers to transport hundreds of thousands of pills and tens of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds across the United States-Canada border over an eight-year span. His couriers—many of whom were caught and convicted themselves—traveled to multiple states to deliver the pills. David Sok, Sychantha’s right-hand man, was also extradited from Canada and pleaded guilty earlier in the proceedings.

Prior to Sychantha’s extradition to the United States, he fled house arrest in Canada and HSI Detroit added him to the Homeland Security Investigations’ Ten Most Wanted List. He was subsequently arrested in the Montreal, Canada area in 2017 following an assault on a police officer and a short pursuit.

“Drug dealers who think they can hide behind international borders and couriers they hire to take all the risks, should think again,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “Together with our agency partners, we remain committed to working up drug trafficking supply chains to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and hold their leaders accountable, and this case demonstrates the depth of that commitment.”

“Sychantha sought to flood our communities with illicit drugs, bringing violence and pain to both sides of the border,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “HSI special agents, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners worked diligently for more than a decade to seek justice and accountability for these crimes. This conviction is a testament to their perseverance.”

Sychantha is facing a mandatory 10-year prison sentence, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. Sentencing will occur on February 19, 2024.  Sychantha remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Norwood and T. Patrick Martin.