China is releasing three Americans who were “wrongfully detained” on Wednesday, Fox News has confirmed.
“We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Sweden, Kai Li and John Leung, who are being held in the People’s Republic of China,” a National Security Council spokesman said. “Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in years. Thanks to this administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all Americans wrongfully detained in the PRC are home.”
Mark Sweden was arrested on drug charges in China in 2012, which the United Nations says is illegal. (Mark Sweden Family)
Mark Sweden of Texas was 38 years old when he went to China on business in November 2012 looking for flooring for construction work. The Texas Tribune reports that he was arrested after his driver and translator were allegedly found with drugs.
A United Nations report determined that the Swede did not have drugs on his person or in his hotel room, and records show that he was not in China at the time of the alleged crime.
The United Nations report said 11 other people arrested with Sweden as part of an alleged smuggling ring were unable to identify him and that the conviction was based on a visit to one of his factories. was once used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Kai Lee’s son, Harrison Lee, told Fox News about a year ago that his father was detained in China while on his way to his mother’s memorial service.
“He was not allowed to get off the plane. As soon as he landed at Shanghai Pudong Airport, agents from the Ministry of State Security seized him and no one has seen him outside the prison since,” Li said. .
A website has been set up. Raise awareness for Lee. He said he had been “detained in China since September 2016 on politically motivated charges of espionage and stealing state secrets.”
“He is currently serving a 10-year sentence in Shanghai’s Qingpo Prison,” it added.
Leung, who has permanent residence in Hong Kong, was also convicted of espionage in 2023. According to the BBC.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Fox News’ Kate Sprague and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.