By Joe
5 minute read
Illegal Chinese nationals were busted in both Florida and California this week. In Florida, two Chinese smugglers were caught in Coral Gables Florida, a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The second bust was in Los Angeles, California.
First in Florida, for the second time in just a few weeks, Coral Gables police intercepted a van following a tip, discovering a group of migrants, predominantly from China, tightly packed inside. Both incidents occurred near Old Cutler Road, close to the luxurious waterfront estates that line Biscayne Bay in the southern part of Coral Gables—an area known for its multi-million-dollar homes.
Early Tuesday morning, around 8 a.m., Coral Gables police received a 911 call reporting “two vans possibly transporting migrants,” according to Sgt. Michelle Christensen. Officers quickly responded, intercepting one van at the intersection of Old Cutler Road and Kendall Drive and a second at 11600 Old Cutler Road, as detailed by Detective Taha Khaled. The operation temporarily shut down sections of Old Cutler Road during the busy morning commute. Inside the vans, authorities discovered 26 migrants, most of whom were from China.
Investigators suspect the smuggling operation began in China, with the migrants likely traveling through Taiwan, then Ecuador, and eventually the Bahamas before being brought to the southeastern United States by boat. Notably, most, if not all, of the individuals were carrying paperwork and cellphones, and all appeared to be in good health. “This doesn’t appear to be a case of human trafficking,” stated Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak. Two individuals suspected of involvement in the smuggling—one from Cuba and one from Puerto Rico—were detained, Khaled added. As of Tuesday evening, it remained unclear whether they had been transferred to one of South Florida’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, such as Krome in southern Miami-Dade or the facility in Broward.
This incident follows another recent case just two weeks prior, in which three Cuban men were taken into federal custody for allegedly smuggling Chinese migrants in a U-Haul van near Snapper Creek in Coral Gables—the same area where Tuesday’s discovery occurred. In that earlier case, the men were reportedly hired to transport more than 20 migrants, primarily Chinese nationals, but were stopped after a witness reported seeing a woman being forcibly pushed into a vehicle.
The recurring pattern of such incidents highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in addressing migrant smuggling operations in the region. Authorities continue to investigate the networks behind these activities while ensuring the safety and well-being of those involved.
In Los Angeles, federal authorities have arrested eight individuals linked to a large-scale smuggling operation that reportedly exploited the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to funnel illegal and counterfeit products into the U.S. from China. The operation, which allegedly involved complicit truck drivers, warehouse operators, and logistics companies, is estimated to have smuggled goods valued at over $200 million. The alleged mastermind of the scheme remains at large and is thought to be residing in China. Those in custody face charges including customs violations, smuggling, and conspiracy.
Federal investigators uncovered a massive smuggling operation at the Los Angeles ports, seizing $200 million worth of counterfeit and potentially hazardous goods, according to Fox Los Angeles. A 15-count indictment has been filed against nine individuals, charging them with conspiracy, smuggling, and tampering with customs seals. The defendants allegedly collaborated with Chinese counterparts and logistics companies to manipulate shipping containers marked for inspection, facilitating the illegal import of fake goods into the U.S.
Authorities estimate the scheme smuggled at least 200 million in merchandise,130 million in illicit items already confiscated. The operation primarily targeted the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the two busiest container ports in the Western Hemisphere.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally, the scheme involved a network of complicit truck drivers, warehouse operators, and logistics companies working together to bypass U.S. customs laws. The defendants, in collaboration with Chinese associates, allegedly smuggled illegal chemicals and counterfeit products by loading them into shipping containers. To evade detection, they identified the unique serial numbers of security seals, created counterfeit versions, and used these fake seals to manipulate the system. The counterfeit seals were reportedly shipped to the United States from China as part of the operation.
When shipments arrived at the port, corrupt truck drivers diverted the containers to offsite warehouses instead of taking them to secondary inspection sites as required. Before presenting the containers to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for inspection, the conspirators would cut the original seals, remove the illegal goods, and replace them with counterfeit seals. Truck drivers involved in the scheme were reportedly paid significantly higher sums than usual for their role in facilitating the illegal transport.
The indictment outlines that the conspiracy operated between at least August 2023 and June 2024. The plan involved shipping containers loaded in China with illegal chemicals, counterfeit products, and other contraband. The conspirators had obtained the unique serial numbers of the security seals used on these containers, allowing them to create fake duplicates. Upon arrival in the U.S., the containers were rerouted to offsite warehouses, where the illicit items were removed and replaced with counterfeit seals before being submitted for CBP inspection.
Seven individuals were arrested on Friday and pleaded not guilty during their arraignment the same day. A trial date has been scheduled for March 18. An eighth defendant was taken into custody on Saturday, with their arraignment expected to take place soon.
The smuggling operation, which involved executives from logistics companies, warehouse owners, and complicit truck drivers, allegedly transported illegal goods from China to the U.S. through the Port of Los Angeles. To evade detection, the defendants reportedly broke security seals on shipping containers, removed the contraband, and replaced the seals with counterfeit ones, allowing the containers to bypass customs inspections.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally highlighted the damage caused by such operations, stressing that they harm American businesses and consumers while undermining the security of borders and seaports, which are critical to national safety. Eddy Wang, Special Agent in Charge at HSI Los Angeles, pointed out the complexity of the scheme and its detrimental impact on legitimate trade practices.
If convicted, the defendants face severe penalties, including up to five years in prison for each conspiracy charge, ten years for each customs seal violation, and twenty years for each smuggling charge. Authorities have already seized $130 million worth of counterfeit and hazardous materials linked to the operation.
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