Shenghua Wen revealed to investigators that he believed the North Korean regime was seeking weapons to prepare for an attack on South Korea.
An individual from China who was residing illegally in Southern California was apprehended on Dec. 3 for allegedly exporting firearms, ammunition, and other military items to North Korea.
As per the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 41-year-old Shenghua Wen and his associates reportedly dispatched at least two shipments of weapons inside shipping containers from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea.
“During a series of Mirandized interviews, Wen confessed to exporting firearms and ammunition to North Korea under the directive of the North Korean government,” according to the affidavit filed on Nov. 26.
Wen, who entered the United States in 2012, has been residing here unlawfully since overstaying his student visa, making him ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition, as per court documents.
Law enforcement officials searched his residence in Ontario, California, on Aug. 14 and seized two devices that Wen acknowledged were intended for military use by North Korea, including “a chemical threat identification device and a hand-held broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices.” Additionally, on Sept. 6, authorities confiscated approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that Wen allegedly planned to send to North Korea.
Following a review of Wen’s iPhone messages related to smuggling in December 2023, authorities conducted the search. The messages revealed discussions between Wen and his associates regarding shipping military-grade equipment to North Korea, along with images of the items. From January to April of this year, Wen purportedly exchanged emails and text messages with a broker in the United States to negotiate a price for procuring a civilian airplane engine.
During an interview on Sept. 6, Wen mentioned that prior to his arrival in the United States, he met with North Korean officials at two different North Korean Consulates in China. He stated that he was tasked with procuring goods on behalf of the North Korean regime and believed he was chosen due to his expertise in smuggling. Wen indicated that he thought the regime required the weapons to prepare for an attack on South Korea.
“He additionally revealed that the North Korean government wanted [him] to acquire military uniforms for their use, which would be utilized by the North Korean military to disguise their soldiers for a surprise assault on South Korea,” as per the affidavit.
During the interview on Aug. 14, Wen acknowledged shipping two containers of firearms from Long Beach to North Korea in October and December 2023, according to the affidavit. The North Korean regime funded the containers and shipping costs, as well as provided around $2 million for purchasing firearms and other items.
In a Sept. 11 interview, Wen stated that he bought many of the firearms in Texas and transported them to California in three separate trips, as per the affidavit. He was also allegedly instructed by the North Korean regime to acquire civilian airplane engines for their military drone program.
“Wen is facing charges of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison,” as per the DOJ.
The case is currently under investigation.
Wen’s initial court appearance is set for the afternoon of Dec. 3, as per a DOJ spokesperson who informed The Epoch Times via email. He has been ordered to be detained without bond, with an arraignment scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025, at 11 a.m.
The Epoch Times reached out to Wen’s legal counsel for a statement but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
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