A federal grand jury in El Paso, Texas indicted Chinese national Xiaofei Chen on two counts related to distributing pill press equipment used to manufacture illegal drugs containing fentanyl, officials stated.
Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Chen on Oct. 29 at a trade show in Las Vegas.
According to the criminal complaint, Chen sold pill press machines with molds and stamps designed to mimic commonly prescribed medications, enabling the production of counterfeit pills that appear identical to legitimate drugs.
Chen allegedly worked for a China-based company that sold this equipment and counterfeit molds to U.S. buyers.
Chen is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
To evade Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requirements, Chen reportedly dismantled the equipment and shipped parts separately, labeling packages to hide their true contents.
The complaint specifically mentions counterfeit M30 dies, commonly used to produce fake opioid pills.