Hearing set for Chinese national accused of importing large amounts of fentanyl precursors

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- A Chinese national indicted in court documents as one of the largest trafficker of fentanyl precursor chemicals, is being held without bond in South Texas until an upcoming hearing.

An arraignment hearing for 48-year-old Minsu Fang, aka "Fernando," is set for Tuesday, July 30, in Laredo, Texas, according to court documents obtained by Border Report.

Fang made an initial appearance in court via video conferencing on Tuesday. The hearing had been delayed after there wasn't an interpreter available who spoke Chinese Mandarin, according to court documents.

Fang was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17. He is charged with helping to ship over 2,000 kilograms of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China to the United States and Mexico in 100 separate shipments between August and October 2023, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani.

"This historic seizure represents a multi-agency collaboration that prevented the production of millions upon millions of deadly doses of fentanyl-laced pills," Hamdani said in a statement.

“Homeland Security Investigations plays a pivotal role in disrupting the supply of illicit opioids at every point in the drug supply chain: internationally, at our nation’s borders, and in communities throughout the United States,” HSI Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee, of San Antonio, said.

If convicted, Fang faces 10 years to life in prison on each count and a $10 million fine.