United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Chinese national has been indicted in the United States in a scheme to import hundreds of kilograms of drugs through the Port of Savannah.   

Wei Gong, a/k/a “David Gong,” 45, of Tianjin, China, is in custody in China since his arrest by Chinese authorities in February 2026 on related Chinese criminal violations.  The United States provided information to Chinese authorities through official channels, which they used to investigate and ultimately arrest Gong.  

Gong is charged in a recently unsealed indictment in the Southern District of Georgia with Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Importation of Controlled Substances, and Distribution of Controlled Substances, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges each carry statutory sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.  

The United States is seeking forfeiture of cryptocurrency seized during the investigation through both the criminal indictment and a recently unsealed civil forfeiture case.  

 “Wei Gong, through his ownership of a Chinese chemical company, imported more than 10 kilograms of dangerous drugs into the Southern District of Georgia and sought to bring in more than 1,000 kilograms through the Port of Savannah,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “He also advertised other drugs for sale, including deadly fentanyl analogues. We are thankful for the professionalism and hard work of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security’s Narcotics Control Bureau in developing their case and taking Gong into custody.” 

The recently unsealed indictment and civil complaint in the Southern District of Georgia establish that Gong imported ethylone and N,N-dimethylpentylone, both schedule I controlled substances and synthetic cathinones, into the Augusta and Savannah areas. Gong sold at least 10 kilograms to an undercover agent working for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and to Conway Rhinehart, 45, of Hephzibah, Georgia, who in January 2024 was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug distribution charges. 

The investigation alleges that Gong’s wide-ranging activities started in 2020 until his arrest by Chinese authorities in February 2026. Gong discussed his ambitions to import hundreds of kilograms of dangerous drugs into southern Georgia, ultimately settling on a scheme to import more than 1,000 kilograms through the Port of Savannah. Gong accepted payment through cryptocurrency, which the DEA seized during its investigation.  

The investigation alleges that Gong identified the source city for his drug supply and operated out of another city in China. He actively sought to avoid customs delays and shipment seizures and used others to aid him in importing drugs from China into the United States. 

Gong’s cryptocurrency records indicate he engaged in millions of dollars in transactions during the time of the scheme. The civil complaint, which seeks to forfeit the seized cryptocurrency, also alleges that Gong violated customs and money laundering statutes.  

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

“The DEA Asia Pacific Division remains unwavering in its commitment to disrupting the drug supply chain that crosses borders and endangers American communities,” said David L. King, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Asia Pacific Division. “This coordinated action with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security reflects our shared resolve to hold traffickers accountable, seize their illicit proceeds, and dismantle networks that traffic fentanyl and other dangerous substances to the United States.”

“This arrest demonstrates the strength of international cooperation in disrupting global drug trafficking networks,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Working alongside our law enforcement counterparts in China, we were able to identify and hold accountable an individual responsible for attempting to exploit the Port of Savannah to introduce dangerous drugs into the United States. This case sends a direct message that those who traffic in poison, no matter where they operate, will be pursued through strong global partnerships.”

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Southern District of Georgia Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel is prosecuting the criminal case and representing the United States in the civil case. 

For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.