Canadian Associate of Surrey Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty in California Conspiracy Case
Another Canadian individual connected to the international drug smuggling network led by Surrey-based kingpin Opinder Sian has entered a guilty plea in a Los Angeles courtroom. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing prosecution of a sophisticated criminal organization with ties to British Columbia.
Details of the Guilty Plea and Conspiracy
Tien Vy Truong formally admitted his involvement in a drug-smuggling conspiracy with Sian and other co-conspirators during a court appearance on January 12. According to legal documents, Truong acknowledged participating in the criminal enterprise from at least June 30, 2023, until October 20, 2023.
The plea agreement specifically states that Truong "knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with co-conspirators to export methamphetamine from the Port of Long Beach, California, to Sydney, Australia." This admission provides crucial evidence for prosecutors building their case against the transnational drug trafficking network.
The Failed Methamphetamine Shipment
As part of the criminal conspiracy, Truong attempted to coordinate the shipment of more than 80 kilograms of methamphetamine from California to Australia during the summer of 2023. However, the drug trafficking organization unknowingly delivered the substantial quantity of drugs to an undercover agent working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
Court documents reveal that on July 6, 2023, Truong communicated with multiple co-conspirators to confirm delivery of 80.3 kilograms of actual methamphetamine to what he believed was a transportation coordinator. Instead, the drugs were delivered to a DEA undercover agent, effectively thwarting the planned export from the Port of Long Beach to Australia.
Connection to Surrey Drug Kingpin Opinder Sian
Opinder Sian, identified as the North American leader of this criminal organization, previously pleaded guilty in November after his arrest in Nevada last June. Sian, who has associations with the Brothers Keepers gang, admitted his role in multiple methamphetamine shipments totaling more than 220 kilograms, all intended for the Australian drug market.
The investigation that ultimately led to both Sian and Truong's arrests began in June 2022 when DEA agents in Ankara, Turkey, identified an opportunity to infiltrate the international drug trafficking organization. A confidential source was inserted into the organization, eventually making contact with Sian after receiving his phone number from a gang member in Turkey.
Sentencing Considerations and Market Dynamics
Similar to Sian, Truong will receive sentencing consideration as a result of his guilty plea, according to court documents. Truong's sentencing hearing has been scheduled for June 29, while no sentencing date has yet been set for Sian.
The Australian drug market represented a particularly lucrative target for the organization, with methamphetamine selling for up to $200,000 per kilogram compared to just a few thousand dollars in North America. This substantial price differential motivated the extensive international smuggling operation spanning multiple continents.
Investigation Methodology and International Cooperation
The DEA's investigation utilized sophisticated undercover techniques, with agents communicating with Sian through both in-person meetings and encrypted messaging applications like Threema. The criminal complaint, signed by DEA special agent Albert Polito, details how the confidential source coordinated multiple deliveries of methamphetamine from co-conspirators in Southern California for intended shipment to Australia.
This case demonstrates the complex international nature of modern drug trafficking networks and the coordinated law enforcement efforts required to dismantle them. The guilty plea represents another successful outcome in the ongoing battle against transnational organized crime with Canadian connections.
