Australia holds Chinese man over suspected North Korea tobacco smuggling

Jin Guanghua, a Chinese man being held in Australia, is in custody for his alleged involvement in a tobacco smuggling operation, which reportedly generated $700 million for North Korea. Currently, he awaits extradition to the United States, where he is set to face legal proceedings.

Jin is accused of supplying tobacco to Pyongyang for approximately ten years. His stance on the accusations remains unclear.

U.S. authorities say that this tobacco trade facilitated Kim Jong Un’s regime in producing and distributing counterfeit cigarettes, contributing to the funding of its weapons program.

Australia’s Attorney-General’s Department confirmed Jin’s detention in Melbourne in March of the preceding year, stating that his extradition proceedings are ongoing.

“The individual is wanted to face prosecution in the US for a number of sanctions, bank fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy offences,” as stated in a Tuesday release by the department.

According to court documents from the United States, the alleged scheme involving Jin operated through various North Korean “state-owned companies” and was financed by its banks.