In the United States, there has been an increase in illicit cannabis trafficking by some individuals or organized groups with ties to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) that represents a multi-billion dollar a year criminal enterprise. How much of that money is directed back to the PRC is unclear. These Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) are also involved in human trafficking for labor, money laundering, real estate fraud, environmental crimes, and acts of violence all fueled by their illicit cannabis trafficking.
This briefing summary was prepared to provide an overview of the scope and scale that these illegal cannabis operations are having in the United States. These illicit operations have been discovered from coast to coast. This summary utilized open-source media, news reports, and data from government agencies to assist the reader in developing a basic understanding of the impact these PRC – TCOs are having in this country domestically.
Additional reports regarding illicit cannabis trafficking, associated criminal conduct and entities linked to the PRC will be released as supplemental information.
Read Time: 5 – 10 minutes
Image: MIG / Open AI