Feds arrest Southern California man accused of trying to ship a ton of methamphetamine to Australia

LOS ANGELES — A Southern California man has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to ship more than 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of methamphetamine to Australia, federal officials said Friday.

Jing Tang Li, 32, was arrested Thursday near a warehouse in South El Monte, about 12 miles east of Los Angeles. He is charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, exportation of a controlled substance and more.

According to court documents, U.S. customs officials inspected seven shipments bound for Australia between February and December of last year. The shipments originated from fake companies and were labeled as carpets and textiles, furniture, wheel hub testing equipment and a molding machine.

Instead, they contained methamphetamine, more than 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms).

Law enforcement tracked Li to the shipments and arrested him as he drove near the South El Monte warehouse where a robbery was reported. They discovered shipping labels, scales and packages of methamphetamine.

Li appeared in court Friday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. If found guilty, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

“Los Angeles is just three hours north of the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere, making it a critical cog in the transnational drug trade,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang in a press release.