Chinese National Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Group that Attempted to Ship Over a Metric Ton to Australia

LOS ANGELES - A San Gabriel Valley man was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that attempted to export more than one metric ton (2,204.6 pounds) of methamphetamine concealed inside shipment containers and destined for Australia.

Jing Tang Li, 34, of China, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu.

Li pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, from February 2023 to December 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers inspected seven shipments of different purported commodities destined for Australia. The purported commodities were falsely listed as carpets and textiles, furniture, wheel hub testing equipment, and a casting machine. The listed companies that were shipping the "products" were fake businesses. Embedded in the products was methamphetamine.

For example, in February 2023, Li attempted to ship a package labeled "other carpets & other textile floor coverings" from Los Angeles to Australia. Law enforcement intercepted the package and determined it contained two pallets holding 23 cardboard boxes the had black rubber mats inside that contained approximately 855.5 kilograms (1,886.1 pounds) of methamphetamine.

Later that month, Li attempted to ship a package labeled "furniture leg set" from Los Angeles to Australia. The package contained four cardboard boxes with white metal tubes inside that contained approximately 32.5 kilograms (71.6 pounds) of methamphetamine.

In June 2023, Li attempted to ship a package labeled "casting machine" from Los Angeles to Australia. Law enforcement examined the package and determined it contained numerous packages, later confirming the packages contained methamphetamine, with a net weight of approximately 202.5 kilograms (446.3 pounds).

Twice in August 2023, Li conspired with others to ship two packages labeled "tooling of wheel hub testing equipment" from Los Angeles to Australia. Law enforcement determined each package contained methamphetamine with a net weight of approximately 102.8 kilograms (226.7 pounds).

Law enforcement arrested Li in August 2024 outside of a warehouse that served as a hub for the drug trafficking conspiracy and contained machinery consistent with those seen in packages shipped by it. Inside of Li's car, he knowingly possessed multiple bags containing approximately 957.7 grams (2.1 pounds) of methamphetamine.

In total, law enforcement seized more than 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds) of methamphetamine hidden in these containers.

Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Australian Federal Police investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provided assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney Brenda N. Galván of the Transnational Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.