WCNYH

Two Men Arrested in Connection to Plastic Theft Ring

November 16, 2016

Detectives from the New Jersey State Police Interstate Theft North Unit arrested Yih Tan, 38, of Staten Island, New York and Rong Wu, 41, of Brooklyn, New York for allegedly operating a theft ring that sold stolen plastics overseas.

A four-month long investigation revealed that various individuals and groups would steal plastic storage and transportation containers, commonly used by pharmaceutical retailers, bakeries, and food distributors. They would then take the stolen plastics to the recycling facility where Tan and Wu would purchase them. It is believed that some of these individuals would then use the profits from the transactions to purchase drugs for personal use. At the facility, Tan and Wu would shred the plastics into small pieces called grinds. The grinds were then sold and shipped to businesses in China that would use the material for other products. During an undercover operation, detectives were able to sell plastic products to the facility with no questions asked.

On November 2, detectives searched the Bayonne facility and seized more than 45,000 pounds of plastic grinds valued at approximately $67,000. Investigators also seized more than $20,000 in currency and other items associated with the investigation. It took detectives several days working around the clock to sort through the evidence, which was enough to fill two tractor trailer box containers.

Yih Tan and Rong Wu were charged with receiving stolen property and fencing. They were released pending a court appearance.

The case was investigated by detectives from the New Jersey State Police Interstate Theft North Unit, Trafficking North Unit, Gangs and Organized Crime North Unit, Official Corruption North Unit, Cyber Crimes Unit, and The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor. The case will be prosecuted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.