On Tuesday, a Chinese man living in Ontario, Canada illegally was arrested. He is accused of hiding weapons and ammunition inside shipping containers headed for North Korea.
Shenghua, 41, was charged with conspiracy in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In a press statement, the United States Department of Justice confirmed this.
The DOJ said that Wen, along with his coconspirators, “exported guns and ammunition to North Korea by concealing them inside shipping containers that were shipped via Hong Kong from Long Beach.”
The authorities said they had seized 50,000 9mm rounds, a device to identify chemical threats and a handheld receiver that detects listening devices.
Akil Davis, the FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge, stated that “the importance of this arrest and discovery of this conspiracy cannot be overstated.”
Davis stated that the team not only prevented the North Korean regime from receiving more restricted goods but also gathered valuable data for the United States. They are experts in detecting illegal exports used to benefit foreign adversaries who evade sanctions and use weapons and technologies.
Wen’s first court appearance will be Tuesday at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. It is expected that his arraignment will be in a few months.
Wen could be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison if found guilty.
