A 24-year-old Spokane man has been arrested and charged with allegedly operating a dark web cocaine business that shipped thousands of parcels across the United States and internationally.
Salim Ghulam Nabi faces federal charges of cocaine distribution and unlawful use of the mail, according to reporting based on federal court documents.
Investigation Began With Dark Web Vendor Accounts
A U.S. Postal Inspection Service agent wrote that the investigation began after Homeland Security Investigations in Houston identified a suspected online cocaine vendor operating from the Spokane area.
The vendor used several names, including “NiccoloMachiaveli,” “Machiaveli Limited” and “Machiaveli Ltd.”
Investigators allegedly connected the vendor accounts to an email address associated with Nabi. That address was also linked to four U.S. Postal Service accounts registered at addresses in Spokane and Spokane Valley, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Thousands of Orders Allegedly Shipped
Dark web posts reviewed during the investigation indicated that the vendor had been selling cocaine through multiple marketplaces since approximately November 2022.
The vendor’s posts described shipping and packaging methods and claimed thousands of completed orders. Investigators allege that cocaine parcels were sent to customers in all 50 states and several countries.
A forum post also encouraged customers to contact the vendor directly through a Proton Mail address allegedly registered to Nabi.
Undercover Purchase Delivered From Spokane
Law enforcement made an undercover purchase from the MachiaveliLimited private dark web store on May 14, 2026.
Investigators received the package six days later. Court documents state that it was mailed from a Spokane address associated with Nabi and contained approximately 11 grams of a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.
The broader investigation examined mailing activity linked to multiple residences in the Spokane area, according to KREM.
Federal Charges Filed
Nabi is charged with cocaine distribution and unlawful use of the mail.
The cocaine distribution charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The mail charge carries a maximum sentence of four years and a fine of up to $250,000.
Nabi was booked into the Spokane County Jail on September 23 and made his initial federal court appearance the following day.
