WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) announced that an alleged prolific drug trafficker and Chinese National from Mexico is back in the country facing international narcotics and money laundering charges.
The defendant, 38-year-old Zhi Dong Zhang, also known as "Brother Wang," allegedly led a large-scale narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization that operated throughout Mexico and the United States, according to the press release from ICE.
Zhang was arraigned in New York on November 19 on a second superseding indictment charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, cocaine importation, conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine possession and distribution conspiracy, and money laundering crimes.
He made his first court appearance after he was arrested following an investigation by the ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York HSTF, in coordination with the HSI Rio Grande Valley HSTF, HSI Mexico City, and other federal partners.
Zhang, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Mexico after the country issued an arrest warrant based on extradition requests from the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia. He returned to the United States on October 23. He was taken into HSI custody in Brownsville, Texas, and was ordered detained pending trial.
Zhang has been designated a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) by the Department of Justice, which is a designation given to the most significant narcotics traffickers in the world.
"This case exemplifies the unparalleled reach and effectiveness of HSI's International Operations in combating transnational criminal organizations. The arrest of Zhang, underscores HSI's commitment to dismantling the global networks responsible for narcotics trafficking and money laundering that jeopardize the safety and security of communities worldwide. Through close collaboration with our domestic and international partners, HSI remains steadfast in its mission to bring these dangerous actors to justice and protect the American people," said HSI Assistant Director of International Operations Ricardo Mayoral.
His alleged narcotics and fentanyl smuggling and money laundering activity was in support of the Sinaloa Cartel. "HSI's arrest of Zhi Dong Zhang marks a decisive blow against the ruthless criminal enterprises responsible for flooding our streets with cocaine, meth, and deadly fentanyl," said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel.
"The defendant's alleged actions on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have bolstered the operations of transnational criminal organizations responsible for peddling death in nearly every form — fueling an overdose epidemic, spreading violence, and destabilizing communities across the United States and beyond," he added.
Zhang's arrest comes as President Trump's and Secretary Noem's announcement of HSTF, which has arrested more than 3,000 foreign terrorists, cartel members, and gang members across the country. HSTF has seized more than 91 metric tons of narcotics off American streets between August 25 and October 7, according to the ICE press release.
Prior to President Trump's creation of HSTF, the federal government had 1,000 competing task forces focused on transnational criminal organizations that were reportedly not running efficiently. President Trump signed Executive Order No. 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which ordered the creation of HSTF to improve the system.
Under the co-leadership of Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, HSTF streamlined those task forces to work congruently in one overwhelming force to eradicate threats posed by illegal immigration, the press release said.
On August 25, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF's operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including: 1,041 Sinaloa members, 856 CJNG members, 641 MS-13 members, 456 Tren de Aragua members, 1,067 weapons, more than $3,250,000 in currency, and approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics.
The defendant, 38-year-old Zhi Dong Zhang, also known as "Brother Wang," allegedly led a large-scale narcotics trafficking and money laundering organization that operated throughout Mexico and the United States, according to the press release from ICE.
Zhang was arraigned in New York on November 19 on a second superseding indictment charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, cocaine importation, conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine possession and distribution conspiracy, and money laundering crimes.
He made his first court appearance after he was arrested following an investigation by the ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York HSTF, in coordination with the HSI Rio Grande Valley HSTF, HSI Mexico City, and other federal partners.
Zhang, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Mexico after the country issued an arrest warrant based on extradition requests from the Eastern District of New York and the Northern District of Georgia. He returned to the United States on October 23. He was taken into HSI custody in Brownsville, Texas, and was ordered detained pending trial.
Zhang has been designated a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) by the Department of Justice, which is a designation given to the most significant narcotics traffickers in the world.
"This case exemplifies the unparalleled reach and effectiveness of HSI's International Operations in combating transnational criminal organizations. The arrest of Zhang, underscores HSI's commitment to dismantling the global networks responsible for narcotics trafficking and money laundering that jeopardize the safety and security of communities worldwide. Through close collaboration with our domestic and international partners, HSI remains steadfast in its mission to bring these dangerous actors to justice and protect the American people," said HSI Assistant Director of International Operations Ricardo Mayoral.
His alleged narcotics and fentanyl smuggling and money laundering activity was in support of the Sinaloa Cartel. "HSI's arrest of Zhi Dong Zhang marks a decisive blow against the ruthless criminal enterprises responsible for flooding our streets with cocaine, meth, and deadly fentanyl," said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel.
"The defendant's alleged actions on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have bolstered the operations of transnational criminal organizations responsible for peddling death in nearly every form — fueling an overdose epidemic, spreading violence, and destabilizing communities across the United States and beyond," he added.
Zhang's arrest comes as President Trump's and Secretary Noem's announcement of HSTF, which has arrested more than 3,000 foreign terrorists, cartel members, and gang members across the country. HSTF has seized more than 91 metric tons of narcotics off American streets between August 25 and October 7, according to the ICE press release.
Prior to President Trump's creation of HSTF, the federal government had 1,000 competing task forces focused on transnational criminal organizations that were reportedly not running efficiently. President Trump signed Executive Order No. 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which ordered the creation of HSTF to improve the system.
Under the co-leadership of Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, HSTF streamlined those task forces to work congruently in one overwhelming force to eradicate threats posed by illegal immigration, the press release said.
On August 25, HSTF officially launched its effort to protect the Homeland with a September Surge encompassing 400 operations nationwide. In just 43 days, HSTF's operations resulted in 3,266 arrests and seizures including: 1,041 Sinaloa members, 856 CJNG members, 641 MS-13 members, 456 Tren de Aragua members, 1,067 weapons, more than $3,250,000 in currency, and approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics.
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