Federal agents have charged six men in a large-scale marijuana trafficking operation stretching across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. This case underscores the rise of Chinese-organized crime groups taking advantage of evolving U.S. drug laws. The indictment shows how international criminal syndicates continue to infiltrate the American marijuana market despite ongoing legalization efforts in various states.
Multi-State Investigation Leads to Six Indictments
This Article Includes
- 1 Multi-State Investigation Leads to Six Indictments
- 2 Related posts
- 3 Former Ohio Doctor Indicted for Naturalization Fraud After Past Violent Crime Convictions
- 4 Myanmar Burns Nearly $300 Million Worth of Illegal Drugs in Nationwide Crackdown
- 5 The Growing Threat of Chinese-Led Marijuana Trafficking
- 6 Wider Connections and Regional Trends
- 7 Part of Operation Take Back America
- 8 Multi-Agency Collaboration
- 9 Drug Trafficking Pressures in the Region
- 10 Severe Legal Penalties Ahead
- 11 Immigration Enforcement in Focus
- 12 Overview of Louisiana’s Cannabis Laws
On May 22, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted five Chinese nationals and one U.S. citizen for conspiring to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The indictment, made public on June 4, names Hanjie Wu, 25, Yilei Zhou, 35, Zihang Zeng, 24—each from China—along with Like Chen, 34, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from China; Wei Bin Chen, 34, a lawful permanent resident; and Aaron Steele, 45, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Three of the Chinese suspects were in the U.S. illegally during the alleged crimes. Wu and Steele face extra charges for interstate travel in support of racketeering activities tied to drug trafficking across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The Growing Threat of Chinese-Led Marijuana Trafficking
This case reflects a disturbing pattern seen by federal authorities. The DEA’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment pointed to Asian crime networks exploiting relaxed marijuana laws. ProPublica’s investigations have shown how Chinese syndicates move from state to state, collecting cash and product while evading law enforcement.
Asian-backed illegal grow operations have been discovered in California, Maine, Oklahoma, and Oregon. Many operate large-scale indoor setups in residential neighborhoods. According to the DEA, these sites often feature security threats like booby traps and weapons.
Wider Connections and Regional Trends
This Louisiana case is part of a broader trend in the southeastern U.S. In January 2024, an Oklahoma federal jury convicted two Chinese nationals in a trafficking case involving nearly 28 tons of cannabis. In December, eight more Chinese nationals faced charges tied to massive marijuana operations in rural Georgia.
Locally, authorities have reported increased trafficking activity along key highway routes. In April 2025, Aaron Steele led police on a chase in Picayune, Mississippi. Officers found 50 pounds of marijuana in his car—an incident that led to federal charges and highlighted the I-59 corridor as a trafficking hotspot.
Part of Operation Take Back America
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, a national DOJ campaign aimed at dismantling drug cartels and foreign crime syndicates. The DOJ describes the initiative as one that “marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
The operation works in coordination with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods. It has already led to several major arrests, including the DEA’s largest fentanyl seizure and a Tallahassee drug bust that ended in 10-year prison terms for several offenders.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
The investigation involved close coordination between multiple agencies. The DEA led the effort, supported by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, and the Picayune Police Department, as outlined in court documents.
Drug Trafficking Pressures in the Region
Louisiana and Mississippi remain under constant pressure from drug traffickers using major highway corridors. In December 2024, Hattiesburg police arrested five California men after seizing over 1,800 pounds of marijuana and $148,000 in cash. In January 2025, police found 126 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on I-59.
St. Tammany Parish continues to be a hotspot for interdiction. Recent seizures include over 16,000 Tapentadol pills from November 2024 to January 2025 and, more recently, 362 grams of methamphetamine hidden in a child’s toy during a June 2025 arrest.
Severe Legal Penalties Ahead
All six defendants face major federal drug charges. The marijuana conspiracy charge alone carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, with possible sentences of up to 40 years, fines up to $5 million, four years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment.
Wu and Steele could face up to five additional years for racketeering-related travel, with extra fines and supervised release added. Assistant U.S. Attorneys André Jones and Nolan D. Paige will handle the prosecution. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson reminded the public that “the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Immigration Enforcement in Focus
The arrests also raise immigration issues. Three Chinese nationals were in the U.S. illegally, meaning they may face deportation along with criminal penalties. This detail supports Operation Take Back America’s broader mission to target illegal immigration tied to organized crime.
Overview of Louisiana’s Cannabis Laws
Louisiana still enforces strict marijuana regulations. While the state updated its THC and CBD rules in 2025, recreational use remains outlawed. A limited medical marijuana program exists, but cases like this show how large-scale operations continue to function well outside legal boundaries.
Traffickers often take advantage of differing laws between neighboring states, moving marijuana into areas with tougher restrictions and higher demand.
Though the indictments were unsealed weeks ago, this case remains timely. It demonstrates the federal government’s continued push through Operation Take Back America to counteract foreign criminal networks operating within U.S. borders. It also reflects how international syndicates are adapting to America’s changing cannabis laws—posing challenges for law enforcement across state lines.
