Two charged in ‘large scale’ drug operation

Published 9:51 am Thursday, February 12, 2015

Two men are under $1 million bond each for a variety of drug charges that involved multiple law enforcement agencies.

Soukhanh Saengchanh, 36, of 10521 Barvas Street, Charlotte, and Sourachay Mysayakham, 46, of 125 Cimmaron, Kannapolis, are accused of using the U.S. Postal Service to distribute marijuana. A total of 60 pounds of high grade marijuana, valued at $300,000, was seized.

On Wednesday, U.S. Postal Service Inspectors, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and China Grove Police Department conducted a controlled delivery of three U.S. Postal Service packages containing approximately 30 pounds of marijuana to 88 and 89 Central Avenue in China Grove.

Surveillance was established, and after delivery of the packages, two Asian males traveling in a 2013 Lexus ES350 picked up the packages and placed them into the trunk. The Lexus was followed to a residence in the 400 block of West Hillside Drive in China Grove.

Investigators found that the packages were placed into an outbuilding behind the residence. Shortly thereafter, the Lexus containing the two Asian males left. Investigators followed the car to Interstate 85 South, where it was subsequently stopped.

Soukhanh Saengchanh  was the driver and registered owner of the Lexus.  The passenger was Sourachay Mysayakhom.

Both men were detained while investigators continued the investigation at West Hillside Drive. It was determined that Saengchanh’s parents and sister lived at the home, where he previously lived.

A consent search was provided by the occupants and investigators found the three boxes containing marijuana taken from the addresses on Central Avenue. Investigators also found evidence in the outbuilding of previous shipments of marijuana being brought to the residence.

The Lexus was seized by investigators and a thorough search conducted.  Investigators found receipts and mail showing addresses for Soukhanh Saengchanh at 10521 Barvas Street, Charlotte, and 4214 Stourton Lane, Charlotte.

When Saengchanh and Mysayakhom were processed at the Rowan County Detention Center, investigators discovered six U.S. Postal Service receipts in the sock of Mysayakhom.  Each receipt showed that packages were shipped from Fresno, Calif., on Feb. 9 to the addresses in China Grove and Charlotte, identified above.

Investigators then went to 4214 Stourton Lane and discovered that a package of marijuana had just arrived. The package was consensually turned over to authorities by an occupant of the residence.

Rowan authorities then obtained a search warrant for the residence at 10521 Barvas Street, where investigators discovered evidence of large scale drug trafficking and previous shipments of marijuana being delivered to North Carolina from California using the U.S. Postal Service. Two other packages of marijuana were also intercepted at the U.S. Postal Service Mail facility in Charlotte that were destined for delivery.  A total of 60 pounds of high grade marijuana valued at $300,000 was seized.

Saengchanh was charged with two counts of trafficking in marijuana, one count of conspiracy, and one count of maintaining a vehicle/residence to keep and sell controlled substances.

Mysayakhom was charged with two counts of trafficking in marijuana and one count of conspiracy to traffick in marijuana. Bonds were set at $1 million each.