HSTF: Chinese National and Las Vegas Man Charged in Scheme to Import Deadly Synthetic Opioid into US

Law Enforcement in the People’s Republic of China Confirmed That a Defendant Was Arrested as Part of a Parallel Investigation MIAMI – A Chinese national and a Las Vegas man have been charged by federal indictment for their roles in a scheme to import large quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid protonitazene in the U.S. and distribute it as counterfeit pills. These charges stem from an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with assistance and collaboration with the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security. According to court records, beginning in approximately September 2024, Jia Guo, a/k/a “idmaster21,” a/k/a “imyourBDOguy,” a/k/a “OXY GUY,” of China, and Seven Schmidt, a/k/a “Vegas,” of Nevada, operated a drug trafficking organization that sourced protonitazene overseas and shipped it into the U.S. for distribution. Protonitazene — often used in counterfeit pill production — is significantly more potent than fentanyl. A quantity as small as 200 grams can produce hundreds of thousands of pills, each potentially lethal. “This case shows why President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force matters,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The indictment alleges that a China-based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring a deadly synthetic opioid into the United States and turn it into counterfeit pills for distribution across the country. These pills are made to look familiar, but one pill can kill. If you use South Florida as a gateway to import synthetic opioids, make counterfeit pills, or profit from addiction, you will face federal prosecution. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.” “The bilateral investigation with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security underscores DEA Asia Pacific Division’s unwavering commitment to the protection of American lives: disrupting criminal organizations responsible for distributing dangerous synthetic opioids across the United States is one of DEA’s main priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge David L. King of the DEA Asia Pacific Division. “We commend the Chinese Ministry of Public Security for their thorough and swift investigative work on this case, which was initially presented at the February 2026 Bilateral Drug Enforcement Intelligence Working Group, hosted by DEA Asia Pacific Division in Colorado.” “This was the very definition of agents and officers working in unison to bring these criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA, Miami Field Division. “Lives will be saved because of their efforts.” “The US Postal Inspection service remains committed to removing these poisons from our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the USPIS, Miami Division. “These charges serve as a warning to others that, using the US Mail to distribute dangerous drugs has consequences.” Guo allegedly coordinated the illegal procurement and shipment of protonitazene from China to co-conspirators, including an associate in Miami-Dade County. That associate allegedly used pill presses to manufacture counterfeit pills, which were then distributed to drug dealers throughout the U.S. Schmidt allegedly ordered distribution quantities of the counterfeit pills and arranged for their shipment from South Florida to Nevada using the U.S. Postal Service. As part of the investigation, China’s Ministry of Public Security took law enforcement action in China against Guo. In April 2026, Chinese officials arrested Guo and the freight forwarder, who Guo conspired with to send controlled substance parcels to the U.S. As part of the investigation, the Ministry of Public Security seized 10 parcels filled with controlled substances that Guo sent which were for recipients in the U.S. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Public Security for its assistance and co