Suspected drug kingpin caught after audacious escape from house arrest

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by Will GrantOctober 25, 2025 at 12:05 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Zhi Dong Zhang, a Chinese citizen known by various aliases including Brother Wang and Pancho, was extradited to the US from Cuba after attempting an audacious escape from house arrest in Mexico City. Zhang is accused of masterminding a global fentanyl trafficking ring and laundering millions of dollars for Mexican cartels. He was arrested in October 2024 and initially granted house arrest, but escaped through a hole in a wall before taking a private jet to Cuba. The Cuban government extradited him to Mexico, where he was then sent to the US on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Zhang's escape attempt involved traveling to Russia, where he was briefly detained before being returned to Cuba. He is now facing charges in the US, potentially sharing a similar fate as other high-profile drug kingpins like Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Key Topics & Entities

Cuba ×280% Sinaloa Cartel 80% New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) 80% Zhi Dong Zhang ×6100% US ×3100% Mexico ×4100%

Keywords

drug trafficking 90% extradition 80% money laundering 80% fentanyl trafficking 70% cartel 60% mexico-us relations 50% us justice department 50% cuba extradition 40% global drug trade 40%