GOVERNMENT DISMISSES METHAMPHETAMINE CHARGES AGAINST ZHENLI YE GON

The Federal government dismissed methamphetamine conspiracy charges against Zhenli Ye Gon. The Chinese native and Mexican businessman was accused of selling pseudoephedrine/ephedrine used in the manufacture of methamphetamine knowing that the methamphetamine would end up in the United States. But two years after Gon was indicted and incarcerated the government is admitting that it cannot prove its case.

Gon, the owner of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Latin America went to Mongolia where he purchased 19.797 tons of hydroxy-benzil-N-methyl-acetetamine. Prior to the arrival of the chemicals in Mexico authorities seized them and used them as an excuse to search Gon’s Mexico City residence in March 2007. While they did not find any drugs in the mansion they seized 207 million U.S. dollars, 18 million Mexican pesos, 200,000 euros, 113,000 Hong Kong dollars, 11 centenarios (Mexican gold bullion coins made of 1.20565 oz t (37.5 g) of pure gold), and a great amount of jewels. Also seized were two dwellings of approximately 20 million pesos, a lab in construction of unknown value, and seven vehicles.

The seizure, which was the largest of its kind in the world, led to his indictment in the United States and to charges in Mexico. He was arrested in a Wheaton, Maryland restaurant in July 2007, but the government’s case failed to jell. Major witnesses recanted. The Mexican government refused to turn over evidence and the Chinese government put too many conditions on the US prosecutors when they wanted to depose witnesses in China. Finally the government admitted that they did not have a case and moved to dismiss.

Now Gon faces extradition to Mexico where he faces methamphetamine and weapons charges. While his lawyers will fight the extradition it is likely that he will be extradited. And that is probably what should happen. If he committed crimes those crimes occurred in Mexico–not the United States. Until 2005 the importation of pseudoephedrine was legal in Mexico. Gon legally imported it and sold it. The use of American imperial courts to charge people with drug and terrorist crimes that occur elsewhere in the world with the claim that the crimes have an effect on the United States is just an example of American imperialism. In the Twenty-First Century with the global economy practically everything has an effect on the United States. We cannot be the policemen of the world. Here the crimes, if any, occurred in Mexico. Mexico requested extradition two years ago and apparently they can do a lot better job of prosecuting Gon than the United States which kept him locked up for two years before the government realized they had no evidence against him.