Two Chinese executives, Qingzhou Wang and Yiyi Chen, have been convicted on charges related to the importation of fentanyl precursors and money laundering. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon for the Southern District of New York and Derek S. Maltz, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Wang also faced additional charges for importing a methamphetamine precursor.
The convictions follow a two-week trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe. In addition to the convictions, authorities seized domain names for seven websites and four cryptocurrency accounts valued at approximately $900,000 linked to Hubei Amarvel Biotech Co., Ltd., also known as AmarvelBio, where Wang and Chen were executives.
"Qingzhou Wang and Yiyi Chen conspired to import massive amounts of fentanyl precursors from China into the United States," said U.S. Attorney Sassoon. "They did so with callous disregard for the effect that such deadly chemicals would ultimately have here in the United States."
Acting Administrator Maltz emphasized the impact of illicit fentanyl on American families: "I have personally seen the devastation that illicit fentanyl has had on American families."
Amarvel Biotech was identified as a chemical manufacturer based in Wuhan, China, exporting significant quantities of precursor chemicals used in manufacturing fentanyl and its analogues—a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than heroin.
During an undercover DEA investigation, Amarvel Biotech shipped over 200 kilograms of these chemicals to the United States after being informed they would be used to produce fentanyl in New York.
Wang and Chen traveled from China to Bangkok in March 2023 to discuss supplying large quantities of these precursors with individuals they believed were involved in fentanyl production but who were actually DEA confidential sources.
Following this meeting, Amarvel Biotech agreed to sell approximately 210 kilograms of fentanyl precursors for payment in cryptocurrency. This shipment was later retrieved by DEA agents near Los Angeles.
In June 2023, further discussions took place between Wang, Chen, and a DEA source regarding additional shipments while acknowledging recent seizures by U.S. authorities targeting similar operations.
Amarvel Biotech advertised its products online using deceptive packaging methods intended to evade law enforcement detection during shipping processes.
Both defendants face multiple charges carrying maximum sentences ranging from ten to twenty years each; however actual sentencing will be determined by judicial discretion within prescribed limits set forth under federal law governing such offenses.
Ms Sassoon commended efforts made by various international agencies including those based out Thailand Fiji Hawaii among others contributing towards successful prosecution this case handled National Security International Narcotics Unit led Assistant Attorneys Alexander Li Kevin Sullivan supported Paralegal Specialist Sabrina Jim Munoz