A Chinese national residing in the San Gabriel Valley was sentenced Friday to seven years and three months behind bars for his role in a drug-trafficking organization that attempted to export more than a
ton of methamphetamine concealed inside shipment containers and destined for Australia.
Jing Tang Li, 34, of China, pleaded guilty in December in Los Angeles federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers inspected seven shipments of different purported commodities destined for Australia. The purported commodities were falsely listed as carpets and textiles, furniture, wheel hub testing equipment and a casting machine. The listed companies that were shipping the “products” were fake businesses.
Embedded in the products Li attempted to ship was methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Law enforcement arrested Li in August 2024 outside of a warehouse that served as a hub for the drug-trafficking conspiracy and contained machinery consistent with those seen in packages shipped by it. Inside of Li’s car, he possessed multiple bags containing nearly 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine, prosecutors said.
The location of the warehouse was unclear, as was Li’s city of residence.