EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — A Chinese woman was indicted in El Paso after she was arrested in Las Vegas for alleged distribution of pill press equipment that was used to manufacture illegal drugs laced with fentanyl, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Dec. 20.
A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas charged Xaiofei Chen with two counts related to alleged distribution of pill press equipment that can be used by criminals to manufacture illegal drugs laced with fentanyl.
Chen was arrested by Homeland Security agents on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at a trade show.
Chen sold pill press machines that can used to mold, stamp or die cast to mimic common prescription drugs to produce counterfeit pills that “appear indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical drugs,” the DOJ said.
According to the DOJ, Chen worked for a Chinese-based company that sold the die molds and equipment and Chen would sell the equipment and counterfeit molds to buyers in the U.S.
Chen also allegedly avoided the Drug Enforcement Administration disclosure requirements by breaking down the equipment and shipping parts in separate packages into the U.S., according to the DOJ.