Seven Chinese nationals residing in Massachusetts have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a large-scale marijuana trafficking operation across the U.S. Northeast. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the accused individuals are believed to have orchestrated a sophisticated scheme involving the cultivation and distribution of marijuana, generating millions of dollars in illegal profits. The operation reportedly utilized interconnected grow houses, where marijuana was cultivated and distributed throughout the region.

The FBI’s Boston Division, led by Special Agent Ted E. Docks, announced the arrests, highlighting the significant impact of this alleged Chinese-run drug trafficking organization on the illegal drug trade in the Northeast. The operation not only involved drug trafficking but also allegedly included smuggling Chinese nationals into the United States to work in these grow houses. These individuals were reportedly required to work off debts incurred from their smuggling into the country.

The defendants, identified as Jianxiong Chen, Yuxiong Wu, Dinghui Li, Dechao Ma, Peng Lian Zhu, Hongbin Wu, and Yanrong Zhu, face charges including conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Additional charges include bringing aliens into the country and money laundering. While six of the defendants were apprehended, Yanrong Zhu remains at large.

A significant base of operations was located in Braintree, Massachusetts, where law enforcement discovered over $270,000 in cash and several Chinese passports during a search last October. Further investigations led to the seizure of nearly $200,000 in cash, over 240 pounds of marijuana, and luxury items such as a Rolex watch from other properties linked to the operation.

Hongbin Wu and Yanrong Zhu were previously stopped by authorities in June 2023 after leaving a grow house with nearly $37,000 in cash. The DOJ noted that the enterprise also engaged in bulk cash transactions with operators in New York’s Eastern District.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the DOJ aimed at tackling illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. Department of Justice has yet to respond to requests for further comments on this ongoing investigation.