LOS ANGELES—A San Gabriel Valley man has been arrested on federal charges alleging his connection to the attempted exportation of more than one ton of methamphetamine concealed inside shipment containers and destined for Australia, federal officials announced Friday.
Jing Tang Li, 32, of El Monte, is charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, exportation of controlled substances, and attempt and conspiracy to export controlled substances, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Li was arrested Thursday near a warehouse in South El Monte. He was expected to make his initial appearance Friday in Los Angeles federal court.
“Dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine devastate our community,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement.
“We see the misery brought by highly addictive drugs on our streets every day. The massive amount of methamphetamine seized in this case shows how brazen drug traffickers have become and why it is imperative that we use our resources to hold these criminals responsible.”
According to an affidavit attached with the complaint, from February 2023 to last December, U.S. customs officers inspected seven shipments of different purported commodities destined for Australia. The purported commodities were falsely listed as carpets and textiles, furniture, wheel hub testing equipment, and a casting machine. The listed companies that were shipping the items were fake businesses, and embedded in the products was methamphetamine, according to the DOJ.
Law enforcement said more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the containers was seized.
Li was allegedly linked to the shipments and arrested near the warehouse where a robbery was reported early Thursday, according to federal prosecutors.
In the warehouse, law enforcement allegedly found shipping labels, scales, and a package containing methamphetamine.
If convicted, Li would face between 10 years and life in federal prison, the DOJ noted.