An audacious attempted escape by one of the world's most wanted fugitives has been brought to an abrupt end, with the drug kingpin now facing charges in the US.
In a late-night communique on Thursday, the Cuban Government said that it had extradited a Chinese citizen, Zhi Dong Zhang, to the authorities in Mexico.
Hours later, Mexico's security chief then confirmed his subsequent extradition to the US on drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
Known by various aliases including Brother Wang, Pancho and HeHe, Zhi Dong Zhang is accused by the US Justice Department of masterminding a vast international ring of fentanyl trafficking and money laundering covering numerous nations but particularly China, Mexico and the US.
The list of charges against Mr Zhang is long, but in essence US prosecutors and the Mexican Attorney General's office accuse him of being a major player in the global drug trade. They say he has laundered millions of dollars in drug money for both the Sinaloa Cartel and the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) as part of a worldwide drug distribution network.
He has also been accused of converting drug funds into cryptocurrency.
If convicted, Mr Zhang can expect to share a similar fate as other drug kingpins like Joaquin El Chapo Guzman in a high-security facility in the United States.
How "Brother Wang" ended up in custody in Havana is an extraordinary tale involving fleeing house arrest in Mexico City, reportedly through a hole in a wall, taking a private jet to Cuba and an ultimately failed attempt to enter Russia.
Mr Zhang's escape had all the hallmarks of another embarrassing episode for Mexico, being able to disappear from under the noses of the authorities responsible for guarding him. In July 2025, upon reaching Cuba, he prepared for his next steps but was intercepted by the Cuban security services, eventually leading to his extradition.
