The person at the center of this case
United States (export control violation)
Cold Case · Open
2 years waiting · since 2024
YANLAI ZHONG
Justice for United States (export control violation) — the trail went cold in 2024, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1What is Yanlai Zhong's current location and why has he evaded capture since the January 2024 warrant?
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evidence
Lead #2What specific U.S.-origin electronic components were smuggled, and how were they transported through China and Hong Kong?
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contact
Lead #3Who were the intermediaries and accomplices involved in the smuggling network across multiple countries?
Yanlai Zhong, also known as Sydney Chung, is wanted for his alleged involvement in a years-long conspiracy to unlawfully export and smuggle U.S.-origin electronic components to Iran through intermediaries in China and Hong Kong. These controlled items were allegedly destined to benefit entities affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and military development programs, including UAV production. Zhong remains at large with known ties to the People's Republic of China and Iran, and a federal arrest warrant was issued on January 31, 2024.
Case
#1156
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Counterintelligence Division; United States District Court for the District of Columbia
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4What connections exist between Zhong and entities affiliated with Iran's IRGC and military development programs?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy Caution: Yanlai Zhong, aka, Sydney Chung, is wanted for his alleged involvement in a years-long conspiracy to unlawfully export and smuggle U.S.-origin electronic components from the United States to Iran. It is alleged that he unlawfully exported and smuggled U.S.
export controlled items through China and Hong Kong ultimately for the benefit of entities affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), which supervises Iran’s development and production of missiles, weapons, and military aerial equipment to include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). On January 31, 2024, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Zhong in the United States District Court of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C., after he was charged with Conspiracy.
Remarks: Zhong has ties to or may visit the People's Republic of China and Iran.
Timeline of Events
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2024-01-31
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Yanlai Zhong in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia after he was charged with Conspiracy to unlawfully export controlled electronic components.
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:January 31, 2024
Last Updated:June 15, 2026
Up to $15 Reward
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Case Information
Incident:January 31, 2024
Last Updated:June 15, 2026
Up to $15 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case