Mexico confirms delivery to the US of trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, after extradition from Cuba

Mexico.- The Mexican government reported this Thursday the handover to U.S. authorities of Zhi Dong Zhang, identified as one of the main fentanyl traffickers in the country and to the United States, after having been extradited from Cuba. Mexico's Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, confirmed the transfer to the United States of the alleged criminal, who had been arrested on October 30, 2024, in Mexico City, but escaped on July 11 of last year. "On July 31st (Zhi Dong Zhang) was arrested in Cuba along with two other people and today he was handed over to the United States authorities," García Harfuch indicated in a message on X. The official attributed the action to an operation led by the secretariats of Defense, Navy, National Guard, Foreign Relations, SSPC, the National Intelligence Center (CNI), and the Mexican Prosecutor's Office. He also thanked the Cuban Government "for its valuable collaboration" in arresting the subject, "identified as responsible for international drug trafficking, money laundering and alliances with criminal groups present in America, Europe and Asia, who has a Red Notice from Interpol."

Previamente, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores cubano confirmó que había entregado a las autoridades mexicanas, tras una petición formal de extradición, a esta persona, conocida como 'Brother Wang' y objetivo prioritario de la lucha contra las drogas de Estados Unidos.

"Estaba prófugo de las autoridades mexicanas desde julio de 2025, país donde cumplía una condena por delitos asociados al tráfico internacional de drogas", aseguró el comunicado de Exteriores.

Zhi Dong Zhang había escapado en julio de 2025 de un arresto domiciliario en la Ciudad de México, donde se encontraba bajo custodia de la Guardia Nacional.

The Chinese national, who is under investigation in the U.S. for smuggling fentanyl, was under house arrest while awaiting extradition to the United States. You can also read: Mexico rejects US attacks against vessels

Dong Zhang was accused of laundering about $150 million for Mexican cartels and smuggling large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

According to official sources, days after his escape, Zhang attempted to enter Russia, but the authorities of that country denied him entry due to a false passport. Subsequently, he was deported to Cuba, where he was arrested. In October 2024, the Attorney General's Office of the Republic (FGR) executed an arrest warrant against Zhang for international extradition purposes, for his probable responsibility in crimes of criminal association, international distribution of cocaine, and operations with illicitly obtained resources. The investigation revealed that Zhang operated a global drug trafficking and money laundering network, with links to the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, classified as terrorist organizations by Washington.