A man from California has been apprehended and faces serious charges related to the unlawful exportation of weapons and ammunition to North Korea, as reported by authorities on Tuesday.

Shenghua Wen, who originally arrived in the United States from China more than ten years ago on a student visa, has remained in the country illegally since his visa expired in 2013. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles confirmed that Wen has been charged with conspiring to breach federal laws prohibiting such shipments. It remains unclear if Wen, now 41 and residing in Ontario, California, has legal representation; he is scheduled to make a court appearance later today.

Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles, emphasized the importance of safeguarding the nation against foreign entities that may harbor hostile intentions, stating that protecting the country is crucial.

A federal complaint outlines that during interviews with U.S. authorities earlier this year, Wen admitted to exporting firearms and ammunition to North Korea upon request from its government. The complaint revealed that he had previously interacted with North Korean officials at consular facilities in China prior to his entry into the U.S. on a student visa in 2012.

Wen disclosed that North Korean officials reached out to him approximately two years ago with requests for firearms. In 2023, he allegedly shipped two containers filled with weapons and other supplies from Long Beach, California, to North Korea, with a stopover in Hong Kong. According to the complaint, he claimed to have received around $2 million for facilitating this operation.

In a related investigation, the FBI confiscated approximately 50,000 rounds of ammunition from Wen’s residence located about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. These rounds had been kept inside a van that was parked in his driveway. The agents also discovered a chemical threat detection device and a transmission interception device that Wen indicated were intended for military use in North Korea, as detailed in the complaint.

Wen’s journey to the U.S. began in 2012 on a student visa which expired in 2013. Official records show that he was ordered for deportation in 2018.