Federal agents arrested six individuals involved in a smuggling operation that brought illegal goose and duck intestines from China to New York City. The contraband was disguised as pet nail clippers and hidden under packaged rattlesnakes. The defendants were also trafficking in duck-blood products from unapproved establishments in China.
The complaint filed in Federal District Court in Brooklyn stated that the imported organ meat is a sought-after delicacy for hot pot meals. Ming Huang Chen, also known as Joe Chen, and his partner Runhua Hou were accused of running the illegal operation in conjunction with individuals located in California and China. The goods were transported to New York, where wholesalers distributed them to shops and restaurants throughout the city.
Two Brooklyn wholesalers, Hangming Fang and Shanqing Ou, were charged, along with transporters Hangting Lin and Minghao Lin. During the investigation, authorities found 385 pounds of pork, poultry, and beef in a van parked outside of Chen and Hou’s home. The couple had their bail set at $100,000 each due to the discovery of $37,000 in cash during their arrest.
The illegal goods were flown from Los Angeles to Kennedy Airport and delivered to a freezer rented by Mr. Ou in Brooklyn. The scheme involved using falsified customs forms to hide the true contents of shipments, including claiming to be pet grooming tools when they actually contained contraband poultry. The defendants were all released on bond after appearing in court.
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