Chinese Fentanyl Kingpin 'Brother Wang' Extradited to US After Global Manhunt
Chinese national Zhi Dong Zhang, dubbed 'Brother Wang' and accused of being a major fentanyl trafficker, has been extradited to the United States. Zhang, who operated globally, was recently recaptured in Cuba after escaping house arrest in Mexico.
Zhang's criminal activities spanned continents, with operations in the US, Central America, Europe, China, and Japan. He formed alliances with Mexican criminal organisations for trafficking. His alleged involvement includes exporting, transporting, and distributing over 1,000 kg of cocaine and a staggering 1,800 kg of fentanyl, along with laundering over $150 million in illegal profits.
His journey through the justice system began in October 2021 when he was first arrested in Mexico. He was granted house arrest while awaiting extradition to the US. However, in July 2022, Zhang managed to escape home arrest, only to be recaptured in Cuba and extradited to the US on July 13, 2022.
Zhang's extradition comes amidst mounting pressure on China to address the flow of precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production. US President Donald Trump had planned to discuss this issue with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his Asia trip. Zhang's case highlights international cooperation in combating transnational drug trafficking.
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