Zhang Zhi Dong is wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States.
A Chinese fugitive wanted on suspicion of trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and cocaine into the United States has been recaptured in Cuba, Mexican authorities said on Wednesday.
Zhang Zhi Dong—who has numerous aliases, including “Brother Wang” and “El Chino”—fled to Mexico after being indicted in federal court in Atlanta in 2022 on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
Mexican authorities captured him in Mexico City in October 2024 at the request of the U.S. government, but this July, he escaped the home where he was held under armed guard after a judge granted him house arrest.
On Wednesday, Mexico’s Security Cabinet said the alleged trafficker was arrested in Cuba, but did not identify him by name.
A federal official confirmed that it was Zhang, according to The Associated Press.
Deportation to Mexico
After escaping Mexico, Zhang traveled to Cuba and then Russia, where he was denied entry and returned to Cuba, according to a Mexican federal agent, who also told AP that Zhang now faces deportation to Mexico.
Once in Mexico, he could be extradited to the United States to face the multiple charges of drug trafficking and money laundering filed against him in Atlanta.
Interpol issued a Red Notice requesting the arrest of the Chinese national, who arrived in Cuba with a fake passport after he was denied entry to Russia, according to Mexican media.
According to Spanish-language daily El País, authorities believe the alleged drug lord is connected to a criminal organization with links to the Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), and is a priority target for the United States.
El País said Zhang is estimated to have allegedly trafficked more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 2,000 kilograms of fentanyl from Mexico to the U.S.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been pursuing Zhang for some time, accusing him of running a criminal network that has been linked to both of Mexico’s main cartels since at least 2016.
