Chinese Organized Crime Infiltrates U.S. Marijuana Trade

The report uncovers a series of drug-related incidents, including a violent altercation at a marijuana farm in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, which resulted in the unfortunate loss of four lives.

Donnie Anderson, Director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, has been quoted by ProPublica stating that Chinese criminal syndicates have "taken over marijuana in Oklahoma and the United States.” The victims of this illicit trade are often Chinese immigrants, smuggled across the southern border under dire circumstances to work in abusive conditions on cannabis farms.

These farms are heavily fortified with fences and armed security personnel. The report also highlights the exploitation of immigrant women, who are forced into prostitution after being smuggled into the U.S..

The state of Oklahoma has become a hotbed for illegal marijuana production and distribution since the legalization of medicinal marijuana in 2018. The absence of stringent regulations and lax enforcement have provided a conducive environment for criminal elements to flourish.

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The thriving black market for marijuana is attributed to the disparity in the drug’s legality across states and the high taxes imposed on the product at dispensaries. The economic impact of this illicit trade is estimated to be between $18 billion to $44 billion annually in Oklahoma alone.

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Former senior DEA official, Donald Im, told ProPublica, “The profits from the marijuana trade allow the Chinese organized criminal networks to expand their underground global banking system for cartels and other criminal organizations.”

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The most alarming aspect of ProPublica's exposé is the alleged connection between these Chinese criminal syndicates and the Chinese government. The report suggests that the Chinese government offers protection to these mafias in exchange for money to fund the communist party, and in return, these mafia members spy on and intimidate Chinese communities in the U.S..

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In February, 50 U.S. legislators penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, expressing their concerns about Chinese immigrants in the U.S. with “potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” who are “reportedly operating thousands of illicit marijuana farms across the country.”

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In response to these allegations, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that it is investigating the matter. DOJ spokesperson, Peter Carr, stated, “The Department is working on developing a marijuana enforcement policy that will be consistent” with federal guidance related to state legalization initiatives. He further added that one of the federal enforcement priorities is to prevent the revenue from the illegal distribution of marijuana from benefiting criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels.