Five dead in illegal cannabis lab blasts as six charged in deadly la county drug ring
Photo 61814404 © Jiri Hera | Dreamstime.com

Five dead in illegal cannabis lab blasts as six charged in deadly LA County drug ring

Posted by
1 min read
August 1, 2025

Key Points

  • Six people were charged in connection with two fatal explosions at illegal cannabis extraction sites in Irwindale and South El Monte
  • Ted Chien and Han Quan Jiao face the most serious charges, including multiple counts of murder and drug manufacturing
  • The 2023 and 2024 blasts killed five workers and uncovered a large-scale illicit operation producing concentrated cannabis

A deadly drug operation masked as a cannabis business has led to murder charges after two separate explosions in Los Angeles County killed five workers, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Six individuals, including alleged ringleaders Ted Chien of Temple City and Han Quan Jiao of Rosemead, were charged following a multi-agency probe dubbed “Operation Sugar Diamond.” The investigation targeted illegal cannabis extraction sites that authorities say were part of a high-risk operation ignoring safety protocols and legal regulations.

Chien, 52, faces five counts of murder, including special circumstance allegations for multiple killings, two arson charges, and eight felony counts related to drug manufacturing. If convicted, he could face life without parole or the death penalty.

Jiao, 55, is charged with one count of murder and similar drug and arson offenses. He faces a potential life sentence if found guilty.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Chien and Jiao ran illegal honey oil extraction labs that exploded in 2023 and 2024. The first incident occurred on October 9, 2023, at a warehouse on Arrow Highway in Irwindale, where four workers—Yi Luo, Xin Chen, Guangqi Fu, and Quizhuo Liang—were killed in a massive explosion. The second incident happened on November 18, 2024, in South El Monte, where another employee, Bordin “Tony” Sikarin, died in a fire.

Prosecutors say the operation continued even after the fatalities, with Chien and Jiao maintaining production and distribution of concentrated cannabis throughout Los Angeles County.

Four other men—Xiaolong Deng, Chengyan Xu, Christopher Reyes, and Frank Herrera—were charged with conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. Xu faces additional counts of production, while Herrera allegedly transported the illegal product. If convicted, the four face sentences ranging from seven to nearly nine years.

All six defendants are scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Department 30 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version