Alleged Chinese Drug Trafficker Extradited From Mexico Pleads Not Guilty in New York Court

The defendant is allegedly ‘a leader of one of the most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the world,’ a prosecutor said.

A wanted poster for Chinese national and alleged fentanyl kingpin Zhang Zhi Dong by the Quintana Roo State's Attorney General Office in Mexico on July 11, 2025.

A Chinese national accused of trafficking large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States appeared in Brooklyn federal court on Nov. 19, after being handed over to U.S. authorities following his escape from custody in Mexico and subsequent recapture in Cuba.

Zhang Zhi Dong, 38—who prosecutors said goes by multiple aliases, including “Brother Wang,” “Kun Li Hernandez,” and “Pancho”—is charged with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, cocaine importation conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine possession and distribution conspiracy, and money laundering crimes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced on Nov. 19.

At his arraignment at the federal court on Wednesday, Zhang pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, alleged that Zhang is “a leader of one of the most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the world,” according to a statement.

Zhang and his coconspirators allegedly “imported thousands of kilograms of narcotics” into the United States and other countries, Nocella said.

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd W. Blanche said in a statement that “The defendant stands accused of running a global enterprise that pumped massive quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine into our communities and laundered millions in narcotics proceeds.

“His return to the United States is a major step in dismantling a network that has fueled addiction, violence, and death.”

The criminal organization had operations in both the United States and Mexico since at least 2016, allegedly laundering drug proceeds through U.S.-based shell companies that were set up with fraudulent social security numbers and fake documents, according to prosecutors.

The organization allegedly enlisted individuals called “banqueros” to open bank accounts for its shell companies, collect cash at drop locations across the United States, deposit the drug proceeds, and wire the funds to overseas accounts to be laundered, prosecutors said.

In Mexico, the organization used “coordinators” who directed the banqueros in tasks such as collecting cash, arranging travel, and providing fake documents to open bank accounts, prosecutors alleged.

U.S. law enforcement officials identified more than 100 shell companies connected to Zhang’s organization that allegedly were responsible for laundering at least $77 million in drug proceeds, according to prosecutors.

Mexican authorities captured Zhang in Mexico City in October 2024 at the request of the U.S. government, after which a judge placed him under house arrest. In July this year, he escaped from the residence where he was held under armed guard.

Zhang was then recaptured in Cuba, and Mexican authorities deported him to the United States on Oct. 23.

Zhang, who remains in custody until a court appearance in January, is also facing a separate set of related federal charges in Georgia.

According to court documents filed in the Northern District of Georgia, Zhang allegedly negotiated and coordinated the shipment of 11 kilograms of cocaine and 1 kilogram of fentanyl to Atlanta for distribution.

After the fentanyl and cocaine were distributed, Zhang allegedly directed operations at stash houses in California and Georgia, where the drug proceeds were gathered before being deposited into bank accounts, according to court documents.

Zhang’s arrest “marks a decisive blow against the ruthless criminal enterprises responsible for flooding our streets with cocaine, meth and deadly fentanyl,” Ricky J. Patel, special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations New York, said in a statement.

“The defendant’s alleged actions on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG [Jalisco New Generation Cartel] 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.”

Zhang’s lawyer declined to comment when contacted by The Epoch Times.

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