California Resident Charged with Illegally Exporting Weapons to North Korea

The justice department has announced the arrest and charging of a Chinese national residing in California for allegedly illicitly dispatching weapons and ammunition from the United States to North Korea. Shenghua Wen is accused of having “successfully” exported a minimum of two consignments comprising weapons, ammunition, and various other articles. He reportedly acquired and dispatched these items utilizing approximately $2 million (£1.5 million) that North Korea had transferred to him. An affidavit states that in September, federal agents reported seizing 50,000 rounds of ammunition from a van situated outside Mr. Wen’s residence in Ontario. Mr. Wen purportedly stated that he obtained this ammunition “at the direction of North Korean government officials.” The immediate availability of legal representation for Mr. Wen, aged 41, remains unclear. His court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Authorities contend that Mr. Wen did not possess the necessary licenses for exporting ammunition, firearms, and other devices, which were confiscated at his home, to North Korea. He faces a charge of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. A conviction for this offense could result in a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. The affidavit indicates that Mr. Wen, along with unidentified co-conspirators, purportedly exported a minimum of two consignments of firearms and ammunition, hidden within shipping containers, from Long Beach, via Hong Kong, to North Korea. Federal agents reported confiscating two devices from inside Mr. Wen’s residence in August, which he subsequently allegedly informed authorities he planned to dispatch to North Korea for its military applications. These articles reportedly encompassed a chemical threat identification device and a hand-held receiver designed to detect eavesdropping equipment. Furthermore, the affidavit states that Mr. Wen allegedly expressed an intention to send the 50,000 rounds of ammunition discovered in a van outside his home in September to North Korea. The justice department stated that Mr. Wen is a Chinese national who purportedly entered the U.S. in 2012 using a student visa and unlawfully stayed after its expiration. The department further noted that his possession of any firearms or ammunition was illegal. A review of Mr. Wen’s iPhone by the Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly uncovered further evidence of items he allegedly intended to dispatch to North Korea, including electronic communications concerning the acquisition of a civilian plane engine. According to the affidavit, Mr. Wen is reported to have informed federal authorities that “These engines would be used to help develop the North Korean military drone program.” During an interview in December 2023, Mr. Wen purportedly stated that North Korea desired these items “to prepare for an attack against South Korea.” The FBI also reported finding “numerous images” of individuals in U.S. military uniforms on Mr. Wen’s iPhone. Mr. Wen allegedly informed authorities that North Korea sought to acquire military uniforms for a “surprise attack on South Korea.” The affidavit specified that his student visa was valid for the period from December 2012 to December 2013. Citing the Department of Homeland Security, the affidavit notes that in 2018, an order was issued for his removal from the U.S. He had been arrested previously in 2021, at which point he signed a document acknowledging his expired visa status.