U.S. and Chinese authorities have arrested 21 people in connection with an alleged scheme to smuggle synthetic drugs from China into U.S. prisons, the Justice Department announced on Sept. 9.
Two Chinese nationals, Lisa Xing, 36, and Zhanwen Song, 38, were taken into custody by China’s Ministry of Public Security and charged in a superseding federal indictment in the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment alleges they supplied synthetic opioids, cannabinoids, stimulants, and other controlled substances to U.S. co-defendants, who then distributed the drugs to inmates in federal and state prisons nationwide.
U.S. co-defendants Adell Willis, 43, of Lewisville, Texas, and Judy Ly, 30, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were indicted in May on charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering. Prosecutors allege Willis and Ly dissolved the drugs into liquid, soaked sheets of paper in the mixture, and mailed at least 65 parcels containing the contraband to prisons between January 2024 and October 2025.
Key Developments
- Chinese authorities arrested 21 suspects, including Xing and Song, and seized 475 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, shutting down four illicit manufacturing sites.
- Willis and Ly allegedly used WhatsApp and Bitcoin to communicate with suppliers and make payments, according to the indictment.
Alleged Scheme Details
The superseding indictment, returned under seal on Aug. 19, expands the case from three to six counts. It alleges that Xing and Song supplied synthetic drugs to Willis, who then worked with Ly to distribute the contraband to inmates. The drugs were allegedly shipped from China to Ly’s Michigan residence before being processed and mailed to prisons.
Prosecutors say the scheme involved synthetic opioids, cannabinoids, stimulants, and controlled-substance analogues, some of which were sent directly from China to the U.S. The Justice Department credited cooperation with Chinese law enforcement for the arrests of Xing and Song.
Official Responses
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs stated, “The indictment alleges that a China-based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring deadly synthetic drugs into the United States for distribution across the country.”
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the case in a post on X, writing that the defendants allegedly trafficked “dangerous synthetic drugs from China into the United States — including smuggling them into our prison systems.” He added that the FBI and Homeland Security Task Force partners would continue disrupting such networks.
Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole credited cooperation with Chinese law enforcement for the arrests of Xing and Song. The investigation, which began with U.S. authorities, led to the discovery of the China-based suppliers.