U.S. Department of Justice press releases or court records

Undocumented Chinese National Charged with Shipping Weapons to North Korea

Dec 3, 2024, 08:16 PM

Federal authorities have arrested a 41-year-old Chinese national, Shenghua Wen, living in California on charges of exporting firearms, ammunition, and military devices to North Korea. Wen, an undocumented immigrant who had overstayed his visa and was residing illegally in Ontario, California, had been ordered deported in 2018. He was arrested on December 3. Wen allegedly shipped at least two containers of weapons and ammunition to North Korea in 2023 by concealing the items inside shipping containers labeled as refrigerators and camera equipment. The shipments were sent from Long Beach, California, through Hong Kong before reaching North Korea. According to the Department of Justice, Wen collaborated with North Korean government officials, confessed to helping the regime prepare for an attack, and received millions of dollars from the regime. Prosecutors described the allegations as "chilling." He also allegedly purchased weapons in Texas under another person's name and admitted to the FBI that he was "good at smuggling." Wen faces charges including felony conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.