Seattle Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Two Years
A federal judge sentenced Sang Su, 46, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in Seattle.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Drug Crime
Live Poll
Do you feel your community is safer from drug trafficking than it was?
A federal judge sentenced Sang Su to two years in federal prison for drug trafficking in Seattle. Su distributed fentanyl and cocaine in homeless encampments and the Chinatown-International District and possessed a loaded firearm while part of a trafficking organization.
Why it matters
The case reflects a broader federal effort targeting drug trafficking tied to violence around homeless encampments in Seattle. It also shows how a multi-state investigation can reach local street-level distribution.
Su pleaded guilty on July 2, 2026, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and has been in custody since his August 2025 arrest. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.
The players
Sang Su
A 46-year-old man who distributed fentanyl and cocaine in Seattle and was sentenced to two years in federal prison.
Tana Lin
The federal judge who sentenced Su and ordered three years of supervised release after his prison term.
Charles Neil Floyd
The acting United States Attorney whose office prosecuted the case and who said the sentence may break Su's cycle of crime.
The details
Investigators began looking into the group in 2023 after drug-related violence in and around homeless encampments. Officers stopped Su in October 2024 after he bought drugs at a Beacon Hill market, seizing drugs and a firearm from his vehicle, and wiretap intercepts captured him discussing cocaine distribution.
Timeline
2023: Investigation begins after drug violence near homeless encampments.
October 2024: Officers stop Su after a drug purchase and seize a firearm.
May 29, 2025: Sixteen search warrants are executed across Washington, Oregon and California.
August 18, 2025: Su is arrested after remaining wanted.
July 2, 2026: Su pleads guilty to drug distribution conspiracy.
Legal Context
The sentencing follows a pattern of coordinated federal prosecutions in which multi-state search warrants target regional fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution networks. It reflects how federal authorities have pursued street-level trafficking tied to encampment violence in West Coast cities.
Residents of Seattle's Chinatown-International District and nearby encampment areas may see continued federal and local enforcement tied to drug distribution. The case signals that trafficking charges can carry federal prison time even for mid-level sellers.
The takeaway
Drug distribution charges in federal court can result in prison time and years of supervised release afterward. Residents who notice suspected trafficking near encampments or public spaces can report it to local police.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Drug Crime reporting from the Seattle area.
Live Poll
Do you feel your community is safer from drug trafficking than it was?
