O.C. man held on Ecstasy charges

A Canadian immigrant living in Newport Beach was charged in federal court Monday in one of the largest Ecstasy-smuggling busts in the region, authorities said.

Alexandru Sabau, 37, was taken into custody Friday by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after being intercepted near his apartment in the 9000 block of Residencia.

Sabau was arrested as he arrived to meet with an informant to finalize a drug trade, authorities said.

He planned to trade the hallucinogenic pills for 25 kilograms of cocaine, authorities said, adding that they found about 100,000 Ecstasy tablets -- worth about $2 million -- in the trunk of his car.

Agents searching Sabau’s apartment allegedly found a small amount of cocaine and about $14,000 in cash.

The arrest capped a three-month undercover probe involving federal immigration agents and the Santa Monica Police Department.

Sabau is charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and could face up to 20 years in prison.

Authorities believe Sabau was bringing “significant quantities” of Ecstasy into the U.S. in exchange for cocaine to export back to Canada, said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge at ICE’s Los Angeles office, in a statement.

Sabau is being held without bail until a July 8 hearing. His arraignment is set for July 21.

Deputy federal public defender Hayne Yoon, who is representing Sabau, declined to comment on the case.

An affidavit filed by ICE Special Agent Michael Corkery says Sabau sold 6,000 Ecstasy tablets to a police informant in April in two meetings at a Newport Beach coffee shop.

The affidavit says that in June, an undercover Santa Monica police detective outside the same coffee shop showed Sabau a suitcase containing 25 kilograms of cocaine as part of a proposed trade.

The investigation stemmed from minor narcotics cases in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles, said Santa Monica police Lt. Douglas Theus.

Ecstasy is a synthetic psychedelic drug.

It is popular at parties for its ability to create feelings of euphoria and to lower sexual inhibition.

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susannah.rosenblatt@latimes.com