Myrtle Beach, SC — Federal authorities have seized five Myrtle Beach-area properties as part of a multi-million-dollar money laundering investigation linking a Chinese chemical company to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.
The Horry County Sheriff’s Office served forfeiture notices in Carolina Forest this week on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Officials say the seizure is tied to a broader operation targeting foreign terrorist organizations engaged in laundering drug proceeds through U.S. real estate.
Properties Worth $2.2 Million
According to the federal complaint, the five seized properties — 9039 Fort Hill Way, 9043 Fort Hill Way, 115 Calhoun Falls Drive, 490 Calhoun Falls Drive, and 534 Calhoun Falls Drive — are located within The Parks at Carolina Forest. Their combined value exceeds $2.2 million.
Court documents show that four properties are owned by Ruiqi Zeng and one by Liu Chuan, both of whom are connected to Xiaoli Liu, the general manager of China-based Sichuan Sundia Chemical Co.
The U.S. government alleges that Sundia Chemical supplied precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine for the Sinaloa Cartel, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.
“Liu and her children laundered proceeds from these illicit transactions back into the United States and attempted to conceal those proceeds by purchasing assets, including these Carolina Forest properties,” the complaint states.
Details of the case were first reported by The Sun News.
Shell Company and Fake Operations
The investigation alleges that Zeng and Chuan used a shell company called New Star Holding LLC to disguise drug-related profits. Registered in Myrtle Beach, the firm presented itself as a supplier of chemical raw materials but allegedly had no real customers, inventory, or vendors.
The company, which operated from 2411 N. Oak Street until late 2024, is described by the government as a front for money laundering on behalf of Sundia Chemical.
“Efforts to obscure these illegal proceeds included the creation of Myrtle Beach-based New Star Holding LLC, which the government alleges was a shell company for Sundia Chemical,” the complaint said.
Zeng, who reportedly entered the U.S. in 2023 to study at Johns Hopkins University, is listed as the company’s agent. Investigators allege she returned to China in November 2024 after federal agencies began scrutinizing her activities.
Chemical Shipments to Mexico
Federal records show that Sundia Chemical, through New Star Holding, sent at least 116 chemical shipments to a Mexican company named Nortpacif between November 2023 and May 2025. Nortpacif, according to the government, imports chemicals on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted one of these shipments in May 2025, containing approximately 50,400 kilograms of a chemical used to manufacture methamphetamine.
While the chemical itself was not a controlled substance, officials say its intended purpose made it illegal. Following the seizure, U.S. Customs and Border Protection notified Sundia Chemical, and Chinese authorities reportedly advised Liu to stop further exports.
Quick Summary of the Investigation
- Five properties seized in Carolina Forest valued at $2.2 million
- Tied to Sundia Chemical Co. and the Sinaloa Cartel
- Money laundering carried out through New Star Holding LLC
- 116 chemical shipments made to Mexico between 2023 and 2025
- DEA intercepted over 50,000 kilograms of meth precursor chemicals
- Properties listed for sale after DEA seizure — suggesting an attempt to liquidate assets
Attempt to Liquidate Assets
Shortly after the DEA intercepted the May 2025 shipment, three of Zeng’s properties were listed for sale, which investigators interpret as a sign that Liu and her family knew the assets were purchased with illicit funds and were attempting to recover their investments before federal action.
Authorities also discovered that New Star Holding’s website remains active, still describing itself as a “supplier of chemical raw materials” and a “window company” of Sundia Hong Kong Chemical Co. Despite these claims, the firm had no known legitimate business activity.
Investigators say they will continue tracing the financial network connecting the chemical supplier to the Sinaloa Cartel.
“This case underscores how criminal organizations are expanding their reach across borders — using legitimate industries and real estate markets to mask their illegal operations,” one law enforcement official said.
Broader Implications
The Myrtle Beach seizure is part of an expanding federal strategy to target financial infrastructure tied to international narcotics operations. Officials say such investigations highlight how seemingly legitimate corporate fronts and U.S. real estate investments are increasingly used to disguise illegal proceeds.
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