A Chinese language drug trafficking suspect who escaped custody in Mexico solely to be recaptured in Cuba has been turned over to the U.S. to face prices he trafficked massive portions of cocaine and fentanyl into the nation.
Zhi Dong Zhang, also called “Brother Wang” amongst different aliases, pleaded not responsible to the costs at his arraignment Wednesday in Brooklyn federal courtroom. His lawyer declined to remark following the courtroom look.
Federal officers say Zhang ran an enormous drug trafficking and cash laundering operation that imported 1000’s of kilos of narcotics into the US and different international locations.
“The defendant stands accused of operating a world enterprise that pumped large portions of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine into our communities and laundered thousands and thousands in narcotics proceeds,” U.S. Deputy Legal professional Common Todd Blanche mentioned in an announcement. “His return to the US is a serious step in dismantling a community that has fueled dependancy, violence, and dying.”
Zhang’s legal group operated out of Mexico going again at the very least to 2016 and laundered its drug proceeds by way of shell corporations created within the U.S. utilizing false social safety numbers and different fraudulent paperwork, in accordance with federal prosecutors.
Officers recognized greater than 100 shell corporations tied to Zhang’s group that have been used to launder at the very least $77 million in narcotics proceeds, they mentioned.
Mexican authorities captured Zhang in Mexico Metropolis in October 2024 on the request of the U.S. authorities, however a choose granted him home arrest and he escaped the house the place he was being held below army guard. Prosecutors say in courtroom filings that he was ultimately recaptured in Cuba and despatched to the U.S. by Mexican authorities on Oct. 23.
Final month, Mexican Safety Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch posted a photograph on social media, exhibiting a handcuffed Zhang subsequent to an airplane, escorted by Interpol brokers.
A wished poster launched by Mexican prosecutors in July mentioned that along with “Brother Wang,” Zhang has a number of different aliases, together with “BW,” “Pancho,” “HeHe” and “Mr. T.”
Zhang, who has been detained till his subsequent courtroom date in January, additionally faces a associated set of federal prices in Georgia.
Authorities paperwork filed in that case describe a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking community with hubs within the Atlanta and Los Angeles metro areas. Tens of millions of {dollars} from the drug gross sales have been allegedly collected at stash homes in Georgia and California and deposited into accounts that Zhang might then entry from Mexico, the paperwork mentioned.
He’s accused of laundering at the very least $20 million within the U.S. between 2020 and 2021 through the use of greater than 100 shell corporations and financial institution accounts, El Pais reported.
