The U.S. Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese nationals in connection with a large-scale marijuana trafficking operation. This week, six of the defendants were apprehended in Massachusetts, while one remains at large. The DOJ alleges that these individuals were smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border to work in marijuana grow houses, with their passports withheld until they repaid their smuggling debts. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley emphasized the exploitation of the immigration system and communities for personal gain, stating that the defendants transformed quiet homes across the Northeast into centers for a criminal enterprise. This operation reportedly generated millions of dollars through an illegal workforce and utilized neighborhoods as cover.

The marijuana trafficking ring is believed to have commenced operations around January 2020, primarily targeting Massachusetts and Maine. Prosecutors assert that the operators maintained communication through an “East Coast Contact List,” which included marijuana cultivators and distributors from or connected to China. A significant hub for this network was identified in Braintree, Massachusetts, where authorities discovered over $270,000 in cash during a search of a residence and a Porsche parked in its driveway. Additionally, several Chinese passports and identification documents were found inside a safe.

The DOJ identified Jianxiong Chen, 39, as the ringleader of this operation. Other individuals charged include Yuxiong Wu, 36; Dinghui Li, 38; Dechao Ma, 35; Peng Lian Zhu, 35; Hongbin Wu, 35; and Yanrong Zhu, 47, who is still at large. Further searches conducted in October 2024 at grow houses in Braintree and Melrose led to the seizure of over 109 kilograms of marijuana, nearly $200,000 in cash, and luxury items such as a gold Rolex watch valued at $65,000.

This case highlights the complexities of international drug trafficking networks and their impact on local communities. The DOJ’s actions underscore its commitment to dismantling such operations and holding those responsible accountable.