Hattiesburg, Miss. – On Sunday, December 8, 2024, a joint operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and supported by several local law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of five California residents and the seizure of nearly 1,839 pounds of marijuana, along with $148,000 in illicit proceeds.
The investigation, which included the Hattiesburg Police Department (HPD), Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), Forrest County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), Lamar County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP), Waynesboro Police Department, and Covington County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant that led to the discovery of the drugs and cash.
The arrested individuals have been charged in connection with the trafficking operation:
Weiying Zhong, 40, charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony
Dong Hong, 37, charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony
Ligang Duan, 49, charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony
Kaihua Yu, 45, charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony
Xin Zhao, 23, charged with one count of Trafficking Controlled Substances and one count of Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana
All five suspects were promptly booked into Forrest County Jail.
The investigation is still ongoing, and law enforcement officials indicate that further arrests may follow. On Tuesday, bond was set for each suspect at $35,000 for the drug trafficking charges and $5,000 for conspiracy to commit a crime.
This coordinated operation marks another significant step in the fight against illegal drug trafficking and organized crime in Mississippi.
