From Dallas Express · Dallas Express · · 2m
Drugs soaked into paper, mailed into US prisons
Two Chinese nationals are accused of supplying synthetic drugs that ended up as soaked sheets of paper handed to inmates.
In brief
Two Chinese nationals are accused of supplying synthetic drugs that ended up as soaked sheets of paper handed to inmates. Synthetic drugs dissolved into liquid and dried into ordinary paper can slip past prison mail screening, which is why this case followed the supply chain all the way back to labs in China…
Charged in an East Texas case
Lisa Xing, 36, and Zhanwen Song, 38, both Chinese citizens, face a six-count superseding indictment for drug trafficking and money laundering out of the Eastern District of Texas.
The North Texas thread
A Homeland Security Task Force investigation tied the case to Lewisville, where a man was charged earlier, with agents from several Dallas federal offices working it.
Started in March 2023
Prosecutors say the conspiracy ran synthetic opioids, cannabinoids, stimulants and other analogues, aimed specifically at correctional institutions.
Two American addresses
Adell Willis, 43, of Lewisville allegedly bought the drugs from Xing and Song in China. Shipments went to his home and to Judy Ly, 30, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Liquid, then paper
Willis and Ly allegedly converted the substances into liquid, soaked sheets of paper in the mixture, and sent the saturated paper to inmates at federal and state prisons nationwide.
“a China-based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring deadly synthetic drugs into the United States”
China arrested 21
The Ministry of Public Security detained Xing, Song and 19 alleged co-conspirators, seized about 475 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, and shut four illicit manufacturing sites.
A new joint working group
An FBI and Ministry of Public Security counternarcotics group set up in January 2026 helped drive the international side of the investigation.
“This investigation led us to China”
Who worked the case
HSTF Dallas, created under Executive Order 14159, pulled in the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigation, Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service and Marshals.
“These two Chinese nationals allegedly trafficked dangerous, synthetic drugs from China into the United States and smuggled them into our prison systems for illicit gain”
Not the first paper scheme
In June, former Texas inmate Deidrick Capers was arrested for allegedly mailing synthetic cannabinoids disguised as legal correspondence. Authorities say the two cases are unconnected.
Ten years to life
All four defendants face trafficking, prison contraband, importation and money laundering conspiracy counts, with a 10-year minimum if convicted. An indictment is an allegation, not proof of guilt.
What matters most
Synthetic drugs dissolved into liquid and dried into ordinary paper can slip past prison mail screening, which is why this case followed the supply chain all the way back to labs in China.
