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Mexico Hands Zhi Dong Zhang to U.S. Custody After Cuba Grants Extradition

He now faces arraignment in Atlanta on 13 federal counts.

Overview

  • Mexico’s security chief Omar García Harfuch said Thursday that Zhang, known as “Brother Wang,” was delivered to U.S. authorities following his transfer from Cuba.
  • Cuba detained him on July 31 for using false documents and later granted Mexico’s formal extradition request, enabling the handoff to U.S. custody.
  • The Northern District of Georgia indictment includes four narcotics conspiracy counts and nine money‑laundering counts tied to transactions dating to 2020.
  • Authorities allege his network supplied precursors to Mexican cartels and moved more than 1,000 kg of cocaine, about 1,800 kg of fentanyl, 600 kg of methamphetamine, and over US$150 million annually.
  • Zhang escaped Mexican house arrest on July 11 via a tunnel, attempted travel to Russia, and was ultimately intercepted in Cuba after Interpol issued a Red Notice.