One of the principal cocaine traffickers associated with an international narcotics ring was sentenced on Aug. 17 to 20 years in federal prison after law enforcement seized more than 170 pounds of cocaine and $1.5 million in drug-related cash linked to his narcotics trafficking activities.

Zaid Wakil, 43, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu for drug trafficking activities in which he acquired cocaine from Los Angeles-area traffickers with the intent to distribute the narcotics on the east coast.

In a sentencing memorandum filed with the court, federal prosecutors wrote that Wakil, “participated in an extensive scheme to traffic in extraordinary quantities of cocaine.” They argued that Wakil willfully pursued a criminal lifestyle, as reflected in his 20 prior criminal convictions over the course of more than two decades on charges that included drug trafficking, forgery and burglary.

Following a jury trial in February, at which Wakil represented himself, the defendant was found guilty of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy, and three counts of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.

The narcotics-possession counts were the result of three incidents between May and July 2011 in which more than 170 pounds of cocaine were seized. Authorities in Arizona seized nearly 70 pounds during two traffic stops, and investigators intercepted a 105-pound shipment that Wakil attempted to send to the east coast via FedEx.