In a federal court in the southern district of New York on Wednesday, January 15th, a case involving the smuggling of fentanyl precursor chemicals was officially put on trial. Two high-ranking officials from Hubei Amarvel Biotech Co., Ltd, Qingzhou Wang and Yiyi Chen, are accused of conspiring to smuggle fentanyl, importing related chemicals into the United States, attempting to manufacture fentanyl in New York, and money laundering.
In June 2023, after being deported from Fiji, the two defendants were arrested and charged by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Prosecutors allege that they exported large quantities of fentanyl precursor chemicals to New York through a chemical company. During an eight-month secret investigation by the DEA, Wang Qingzhou, the company’s main executive, marketing manager Chen Yiyi, and sales representative Er Yang (currently at large), were found to have transported 200 kilograms of precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and its analogues to DEA informants and planned to export on a monthly basis in tons.
Prosecutors have charged Hubei Amarvel and the three defendants with clear knowledge of the chemical’s purpose, yet they chose to export it to the United States to manufacture fentanyl and its analogues in New York. Even knowing that drugs made from these chemicals have caused deaths in the US, they agreed to continue supplying large quantities of precursor chemicals. However, the transactions were halted due to the arrest before completion.
In the United States, the focus of related laws is on the intent of the transactions, purchasing or selling such legal chemicals with the purpose of manufacturing fentanyl is a federal crime.
Prosecutors outlined in their opening statement that the case began with a contact in November 2022. At that time, a DEA informant requested a chemical sample from Wang Qingzhou, and after several meetings, including face-to-face negotiations in Bangkok, Thailand, they finalized the price, delivery details, and long-term cooperation. The defendants even discussed plans to establish a laboratory in New York for long-term fentanyl production.
The prosecution stated that they would present multiple pieces of evidence, including communication records of Wang Qingzhou and others, his own words, advertised “customized” chemical services on the website, chemical transport documents, and videos, to prove that the defendants were well aware of the chemicals’ use and actively engaged in illegal transactions.
Qingzhou Wang’s defense attorney, David Mou, countered the allegations, emphasizing during the opening statement that the transported chemical precursors were not enough to manufacture fentanyl and the related products are within the legal scope in the US. Wang Qingzhou was only translating for others during the trading meetings, which does not mean he was aware of the conspiracy or intended to distribute fentanyl-related drugs in the US, and the DEA’s undercover operation and inducement are insufficient to constitute strong evidence.
Furthermore, he argued that the defendants did not establish a laboratory, did not manufacture fentanyl, and there is no evidence showing Americans died from these chemicals.
Yiyi Chen’s defense attorney briefly stated that the jury should remain open-minded and cautious with all evidence.
After about half an hour of opening remarks, a DEA informant appeared in court to testify. He described how he contacted Anita, a sales representative from “Hubei Amarvel”, through WhatsApp. Anita, using the name Armavelbio Piperidive, assisted in arranging the transport and trading of chemicals.
Based on court-presented communication records, Anita recommended a series of “products that many customers are interested in” to the informant and suggested: “For better experimental results, it is recommended to try the following products (omitted). Considering future large-scale transactions, it is advised to conduct more extensive experiments from the beginning.”
This case is seen as a significant action by the US government against the illegal fentanyl supply chain, particularly involving Chinese chemical companies. The jury will have to determine during deliberations whether the defendants, without a shadow of a doubt, have committed a crime. The trial is still ongoing, and more evidence and witness testimonies will be disclosed gradually.