Chinese fugitive seized control of half of Cuba’s tobacco empire using crypto and human trafficking

Gemma Iso
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:11:34 +0000
International, Chen Zhi, Crime, Cuban cigars

For years, Chen Zhi seemed like just another rising business star from Southeast Asia, but behind the polished image, the Chinese businessman—wanted by the United States and the United Kingdom—was quietly weaving his way into one of the world’s most iconic luxury industries: Cuban cigars. According to a recent report by CiberCuba, Chen ended up …