In a significant international law enforcement operation, Mexican authorities have extradited Zhi Dong Zhang, a Chinese national accused of orchestrating one of the largest global drug trafficking networks, to the United States. Known by his alias “Brother Wang,” Zhang faces allegations of distributing vast quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, substances that have been central to the global addiction crisis and overdose epidemic. Authorities estimate that Zhang’s network moved over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 2,000 kilograms of fentanyl annually, while laundering more than $150 million in illicit proceeds. Zhang’s arrest in Mexico last year was followed by a dramatic escape in July, during which he used a forged passport to flee to Cuba. His attempt to enter Russia was thwarted when he was detained for illegal entry and subsequently returned to Cuba, where he was recaptured. Zhang’s extradition marks a pivotal moment in the U.S. government’s intensified efforts to combat international drug trafficking. Investigators revealed that Zhang collaborated with criminal organizations across Central America, Europe, China, and Japan, leveraging ties with powerful Mexican cartels to facilitate his operations. His extradition coincides with mounting U.S. pressure on China to curb the production of precursor chemicals used in fentanyl manufacturing. President Donald Trump has indicated that this issue will be a central topic in his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.