Chinese National Used Port to Smuggle Weapons

Shenghua Wen, a 41-year-old Chinese national illegally residing in the city of Ontario, was arrested on Dec. 3 for allegedly smuggling firearms, ammunition, and other military-grade equipment to North Korea from the Port of Long Beach.

Federal authorities allege Wen was acting as an operative for the North Korean government, receiving at least $2 million via wire transfer for shipments intended to aid in a potential attack on South Korea.

Wen, who arrived in the U.S. in 2012 on a student visa, overstayed his visa in 2013 and remained in the country illegally. He was ordered removed from the U.S. in 2018 and acknowledged his overstay status during a 2021 arrest.

It is unclear how Wen was able to remain in the U.S. following these events.

The operation involved concealing weapons and military equipment inside shipping containers sent from the Port of Long Beach to Hong Kong in 2023, with the final destination being North Korea. Wen allegedly disguised these shipments as refrigerators and camera parts to avoid detection.

Wen purchased a Texas-based business with a federal firearms license called Super Armory for $150,000 to obtain the weapons in 2023. Using his partner’s name to register the company, Wen employed straw purchasers to buy firearms from gun stores, avoiding detection by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to the criminal complaint.

He would then allegedly ship the weapons and ammunition from Texas to the Port of Long Beach.

Wen told investigators that he believed the North Korean government was seeking these items to prepare for a surprise attack on South Korea, according to the complaint. He allegedly claimed that the North Korean government also tasked him with obtaining military uniforms to disguise their soldiers during a potential offensive.

The investigation into Wen began after authorities received multiple tips, including from individuals he had attempted to purchase items. This led to a series of interviews with Wen, where he allegedly admitted to his involvement in the smuggling operation.

On Aug. 14, federal agents seized two devices from Wen’s Ontario home: a chemical threat identification device and a handheld counter surveillance gadget to detect electronic eavesdropping. These devices were intended for the North Korean military, according to the complaint.

On Sept. 6, law enforcement seized approximately 50,000 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition from Wen’s van. Wen allegedly confessed that he had solicited this ammunition at the direction of North Korean government officials for shipment to the country before leaving China.

Wen’s iPhone revealed additional evidence of his illicit activities, according to authorities. Emails and text messages dating back to January 2024 detailed his attempts to obtain a civilian airplane engine, which he allegedly intended to send to North Korea for their military drone program.

The FBI also found numerous images of individuals in U.S. military uniforms on his phone.

Wen has been charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which prohibits supplying North Korea with specific technologies and military supplies without U.S. government approval. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Speaking at a news conference, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada stressed the importance of preventing sensitive military equipment from falling into the hands of adversaries.

He highlighted the chilling nature of the alleged actions, emphasizing that North Korea was operating an agent within the U.S. to obtain advanced technology and military equipment for a potential attack on a U.S. ally.

For any inquiries or further information, please contact Jose Cervantes at JoseC.Press@pm.me