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Inside the Dragon's Den
newsmax.com ^ | July 24, 2002 | Charles R. Smith

Posted on 07/23/2002 4:20:50 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

Chinese Army Smuggling Into the U.S. - Chinese Army Smuggling Into the U.S.

In early 2000, the U.S. Justice Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service executed a successful undercover operation. "Squeeze Play" was designed to break up an Asian people-smuggling ring. The INS operation also uncovered the fact that the Chinese government was directly involved.

In the end, six individuals, including a Chinese general, were indicted by a U.S. grand jury formed in Detroit. The indictment of Chinese Gen. Fhang Wei included videotaped evidence taken by a Canadian undercover operative who managed to penetrate the smuggling ring.

For the first time in the U.S., James Leigh, a Canadian currently living abroad at an undisclosed location, relayed his story of danger inside the dragon's den.

The success of Operation Squeeze Play was due largely to Leigh's courage and cunning in his penetration of the Chinese smuggling ring. In 2000, Leigh posed as an associate of a Canadian criminal gang with well-placed connections, offering access to stolen U.S. passports and visas.

Leigh also offered access to corrupt INS officials who would allow quick and easy entry into America.

Leigh traveled twice to China, stopping in both Beijing and Fujian Province to meet with the high-ranking communist Chinese officials who ran the illegal smuggling operation. The final stop was in Fuzhou, where Leigh met with a Chinese general charged with running the smuggling ring.

Gen. Fhang Wei

"All of the smuggling operations went through General Fhang's offices at the Public Security Bureau. Fhang's men collected the money, some of which is later turned over to the Chinese communist government," noted Leigh.

"When I arrived in Fujian, I was escorted by uniformed officers of the PSB [Public Security Bureau]. They drove me with a police escort right through downtown Fuzhou, complete with lights and sirens, directly to General Fhang's office," stated Leigh.

Once inside, Leigh was able to convince his Chinese host to allow him to videotape the meeting as an effort to convince his co-conspirators in Canada and the U.S. that the smuggling operation was efficient and able to support them.

Leigh's incredible videotaped record, later turned over to the INS for the successful indictments, including long conversations with a fully uniformed Gen. Fhang.

"General Fhang told me that he not only controlled the people-smuggling operation out of Fujian but that he controlled everything including prostitution. Fhang even confided in me that he controlled Hong Kong's airport," noted Leigh.

For the remainder of the trip Leigh was able to conceal his videotape recorder and, at great personal risk, managed to capture the entire smuggling operation in action. The illegal immigrants arrived at Fhang's headquarters, where communist officials on the entry operation briefed them. In fact, Fhang greeted each new prospect.

In Hong Kong one of the immigrants aroused the suspicion of an unsuspecting Hong Kong Police officer. However, one of Fhang's officials quickly convinced the officer that all was in order and the illegal immigrant was allowed to pass. Finally, the group arrived in Detroit, where a supposedly corrupt INS official approved their entry into the U.S.

Squeeze Play Success and Failure

In the end, the INS was able to successfully prosecute two Korean criminals involved in the operation, Hyo Young Park and Tong Choe. Gen. Fhang is still in China and is still under U.S. indictment. Despite his legal problems, Fhang remains in control of the Fujian Public Security Bureau.

The Chinese government has not responded to the U.S. indictment of one of its top generals. Instead, Fhang's boss in Fujian, Gen. Zuang Rushun, deputy director of the PSB, was arrested and executed following a quick trial on corruption charges.

Ironically, after being indicted in the United States, Chinese Gen. Fhang met with Canadian officials, including Immigration Minister Elanor Kaplan, during a briefing in Fujian on how to combat illegal people-smuggling. The briefing included plans for Canadian security and law enforcement operations to combat smuggling.

Despite the apparent lack of coordination between the U.S. and Canada, Leigh's undercover work for the U.S. government did not end with Operation Squeeze Play. For the first time, Leigh revealed that he also helped the U.S. track North Korean operatives working within Canada and in Asia.

Scud Missiles Sent to Iran and Afghanistan

"The North Koreans provide a lot of muscle for the Chinese army operations," stated Leigh. "North Koreans, masking themselves as South Koreans, frequently enter Canada and America. North Koreans do most of the footwork as a paid franchise for the Chinese army."

"I have videotaped North Korean agents working in Nepal. I followed their operations to Nepal, where I filmed them moving dismantled Scud missiles in crates on the backs of mules across the Himalaya mountains. The Scud missiles are moved through China by truck to the Nepal border, where they are then dismantled and packed into yak and mule trains to cross the mountains. I was told that the missiles were destined for customers in Iran and Afghanistan."

Leigh's allegations that China and North Korea are moving large ballistic missiles over the tough mountain roads is backed by U.S. satellite photographs of Chinese M-11 missile parts being trucked to Pakistan over the same route in 2001.

The satellite evidence led the Bush administration to impose sanctions against China for the transfer of missile parts to Pakistan. In addition, U.S. intelligence sources confirmed that the Taliban acquired operational Scud missiles from an unknown source.

U.S. 'at War' With China "The Chinese government has been and still is sanctioning smuggling into the United States and Canada," stated Leigh flatly in an exclusive interview.

"There is an unholy trinity between the Triad gangs, certain very rich businessmen and the People's Liberation Army. The U.S. should consider itself at war with China," said Leigh.

Leigh's videotapes have been turned over to the Department of Justice and have been used in court to successfully convict. Today, Leigh remains in hiding and on his own, despite repeated promises from the Reno-run Department of Justice that he would be provided U.S. assistance.

"The Clinton administration shut down Operation Squeeze Play and refused to pursue the evidence that pointed directly at Beijing. Interestingly, they did this right before the vote in Congress on China's most-favored [MFN] trading status," asserted Leigh.

"After the indictments, the Department of Justice simply dumped me," he concluded.


TOPICS: Canada; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; chinastuff; communism; fhangwei; immigration; ins; northkorea; pla; prc; proliferation; squeezeplay
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1 posted on 07/23/2002 4:20:50 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe


2 posted on 07/23/2002 4:22:52 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Dismissed by most as nothing to worry about or obscure or excentric. JAII (just another isolated incident) perhaps they would say.

But what if, as it appears, this is just the tip of the iceberg and containers full of Chinese from the Fujian province who are getting through the border are actually ChiCom army sleepers?

Then what?

3 posted on 07/23/2002 5:32:46 PM PDT by flamefront
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To: Free the USA; Sawdring; Askel5; maui_hawaii; Enemy Of The State; 11th Earl of Mar; ...
fyi - ping

Gen. Fhang Wei:

4 posted on 07/24/2002 1:31:24 PM PDT by flamefront
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To: flamefront; *China stuff
thanks for the ping
5 posted on 07/24/2002 1:34:15 PM PDT by Free the USA
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To: flamefront
Dismissed by most as nothing to worry about or obscure or excentric. JAII (just another isolated incident) perhaps they would say.

Actually, I would dismiss it as JANBSS (Just Another Newsmax BS Story).

But what if, as it appears, this is just the tip of the iceberg and containers full of Chinese from the Fujian province who are getting through the border are actually ChiCom army sleepers?

Hmm. Let's see, any potential problems with this concept of operations--ignoring command and control, logistics, abject lack of heavy weapons, um...well, aside from those *small* (hee-hee) problems?

6 posted on 07/24/2002 1:36:48 PM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Well, gee, what does Ashcroft have to say?
7 posted on 07/24/2002 1:46:43 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: Poohbah
No problem just let them pass, eh, Poohbah?

Quick, cut off any reasonable discussion before someone takes any of this seriously.

Look, logistical support can come afterwards to sleepers, why be so quick to condemn this? I can easily imagine COSCO container loads getting through when needed. But those logistics are not even needed for a small insurgent force to cause assymetric mayhem, I think you would agree.

The main import of the article is to wake people up to the exploit of the borders by avowed enemies.

8 posted on 07/24/2002 1:58:51 PM PDT by flamefront
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To: flamefront
No problem just let them pass, eh, Poohbah?

I didn't say that, I said that this story sounds like BS. It sounds like bad adventure fiction.

Quick, cut off any reasonable discussion before someone takes any of this seriously.

Yeah, I just point out a few *little* problems (and I'll point out one that I forgot--OPSEC), and it's "cutting off reasonable discussion." I don't get one solid response to the points I made, just whining and complaining that I don't have a case of hinge-head, placidly agreeing with everything you say.

Look, logistical support can come afterwards to sleepers, why be so quick to condemn this?

Because there are very real things to worry about. In the meantime, the troops have to eat, they need a place to sleep, and they need to train (hey, another *small* problem to deal with).

I can easily imagine COSCO container loads getting through when needed.

You've just reminded me of a great line: "hope is not a method." And that is what your proposed CONOPS boils down to--hope that nothing goes wrong.

But those logistics are not even needed for a small insurgent force to cause assymetric mayhem, I think you would agree.

"Asymmetric warfare" is one of the most overblown, overhyped buzzwords in an increasingly vapid and buzzword-larded defense analysis community. 9/11 was just about the worst-case asymmetric warfare scenario, and we barely slowed down.

The main import of the article is to wake people up to the exploit of the borders by avowed enemies.

Ah, yes. Let's ignore the reasons that exist for doubting the veracity of this story--it's all about the "higher truth" being expressed.

Dude, I don't accept that crap from the lamestream press when one of their heroes gets caught making up a news story, I'm not going to accept it from someone just because it supports a "conservative" idea.

9 posted on 07/24/2002 3:02:15 PM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Thanks for the DENG XIAO PING!
10 posted on 07/24/2002 3:04:58 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
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To: Poohbah
It sounds like bad adventure fiction.

No need to shoot the messenger again, Poohbah. Just check out the various stories written in 2000 about "Operation Squeeze Play" - just copy that phrase into your favorite search engine.

11 posted on 07/24/2002 3:28:25 PM PDT by flamefront
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To: flamefront
And no one's ever written bad adventure fiction about a real-world operation?
12 posted on 07/24/2002 3:30:54 PM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Poohbah
Well, at least we have agreed that there are basic facts here. I'll ping you when the expected next chapters come out so we can compare notes on validity of the reporting.
13 posted on 07/24/2002 3:58:25 PM PDT by flamefront
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To: flamefront
About the only thing we agree is that there was an "Operation Squeeze Play." Everything after that smells like BS to me.
14 posted on 07/24/2002 4:02:05 PM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Tailgunner Joe
The modern PLA sounds more like the Mafia than a revolutionary army. They control all the rackets.
15 posted on 07/24/2002 4:11:39 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker
Yup.

You have to wonder how well they'd fight against a real army.

16 posted on 07/24/2002 4:15:06 PM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Tailgunner Joe
NewsMax.com - Inside The Dragon's Den: "CHINESE ARMY SMUGGLING INTO THE U.S." by Charles R. Smith

SOFT WAR.net

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "CHINA TESTS MISSILE" by Bill Gertz (072302)

INSIGHT On The News online: "PRC ARMS ITSELF TO WAGE WAR ON U.S." by Zoli Simon (ARTICLE NOTE: The PRC is The People's Republic of China.) (072202)

A Very Interesting Discussion on FREE REPUBLIC.com

WASHINGTON TIMES: "U.S. PENALIZES 8 CHINESE FIRMS" (CINDY'S NOTE: READ THIS ARTICLE. SEE WHAT WAS ALLEGEDLY SOLD TO IRAN.) (071902)

IRNA - ISLAMIC REPUBLIC NEWS AGENCY: Tehran. "PEOPLE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN ANTI-AMERICAN RALLIES" (071802)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "MANILA SAYS CHINA DIGS IN ON SPRATLYS" by Jim Gomez (071702)

FOX NEWS.com: "COMMISSION: CHINA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF U.S. FRIENDSHIP" by Teri Schultz (071602)

YAHOO! News Singapore: "CHINA'S USE OF U.S. CAPITAL RAISES SECURITY CONCERNS" (071402)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CHINA TO TARGET U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS" by Jon Dougherty (071302)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "CHINESE BUILDUP TARGETS TAIWAN" by Bill Gertz (071302)

TAIPEI TIMES.com: "CHINA STILL A THREAT, PRESIDENT WARNS MILITARY GRADUATES" (071302)

17 posted on 07/24/2002 5:44:53 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: Poohbah
Why do you think that NewsMax made this up? Several years ago the American Spectator printed several full-length articles indicating that the Clinton Gang was paying Red China back for the campaign donations--specifically with high-speed computer licensing and with ballistic guidance technology.

The Spectator named names, and sure enough, only a year ago Loral (one of the bad guys) was convicted of violations and paid a small fine.

There is NO reason to doubt that Red China has a lot of operations going in the USA, and trafficking in illegals is only a minor part.

That is, unless you can prove otherwise...
18 posted on 07/24/2002 6:01:57 PM PDT by ninenot
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To: colorado tanker
"..they control all the rackets.."

As Jesse James once said, 'that's where the MONEY is!'
19 posted on 07/24/2002 6:06:48 PM PDT by ninenot
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To: Poohbah
Like you I am not ready to buy 'an Army in COSCO containers.'

But to be so naive as to think that China is not trying any way they can to destablize the USA--that's like thinking Hillary was the perfect wife.
20 posted on 07/24/2002 6:09:03 PM PDT by ninenot
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