Chinese National Admits Using Guatemala for CJNG Cocaine Shipments

A Chinese national, Wenshen Xu, has admitted to using Guatemala as a hub for coordinating cocaine shipments for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Xu, 52, pleaded guilty on June 30 in a U.S. federal court to charges including conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to launder drug money, and providing material support to the CJNG.

Guatemala was not only the site of Xu's capture in 2025 but also hosted a critical meeting on July 17, 2025. During this meeting in Guatemala City, Xu agreed to coordinate cocaine transport for individuals claiming to represent the CJNG, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. Guatemalan authorities apprehended Xu the same day on charges related to money laundering, but U.S. investigations linked him to broader drug trafficking and cartel support.

According to the plea agreement, Xu managed a sophisticated logistics network from Honduras. This operation transported cocaine from Colombia to the United States and Europe. U.S. authorities describe him as a prolific trafficker who oversaw employees and an infrastructure including airstrips, airports, armored vehicles, and couriers across Latin America. His role involved ensuring cocaine reached organizations capable of distributing it in the U.S. and managing the associated financial operations.

The investigation traced the drug conspiracy back to November 2023. Xu reportedly held meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in March 2024, to coordinate drug and money laundering activities. He also traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, in June 2024, where he met with individuals involved in cocaine trafficking and observed a 50-kilogram shipment destined for the U.S.