A man from Southern California was taken into custody on allegations of attempting to smuggle over 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of methamphetamine to Australia, as per federal officials on Friday. Jing Tang Li, aged 32, was apprehended on Thursday near a warehouse in South El Monte, situated about 12 miles east of Los Angeles. He is facing charges related to the distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, exportation of controlled substances, among others.
Court documents indicated that U.S. customs officers scrutinized seven shipments bound for Australia between February and December of the previous year. These shipments were linked to fictitious businesses and were labeled as carpets and textiles, furniture, wheel hub testing equipment, and a casting machine. Contrary to their labels, they were found to contain methamphetamine, totaling over 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms).
Through investigative efforts, authorities connected Li to the shipments and apprehended him while driving close to the South El Monte warehouse during a reported robbery incident. A search of his vehicle revealed shipping labels, weighing scales, and packages of methamphetamine. Li made an appearance in court on Friday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles and could potentially face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years if convicted.
Eddy Wang, an agent with Homeland Security Investigations, highlighted the significance of Los Angeles’ proximity to the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere, emphasizing its role in transnational narcotics trafficking in a news release.
