Mexico Hands Over Chinese Drug Boss to U.S.

A man accused of running one of the world’s biggest drug empires is now in U.S. custody after a dramatic international chase that spanned three countries.

Zhi Dong Zhang, known by the nickname “Brother Wang”, is accused of trafficking massive amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, two of the most dangerous drugs fuelling addiction and overdose deaths worldwide. Investigators say he moved over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 2,000 kilograms of fentanyl while laundering more than $150 million a year.

Zhang was first arrested in Mexico last year and placed under house arrest. In July, he escaped using a fake passport and fled to Cuba. From there, he attempted to enter Russia but was detained for illegal entry and sent back to Cuba, where he was recaptured. Now, Mexican authorities have handed him over to the United States.

Investigators say Zhang worked with criminal groups across the globe, including in Central America, Europe, China, and Japan. He built ties with powerful Mexican cartels to move drugs and money.

His extradition comes as the U.S. increases pressure on China to crack down on chemicals used in fentanyl production. President Donald Trump has said the issue will be a key topic when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.