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Hennessey police arrest alleged drug traffickers

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Hennessey police arrest alleged drug traffickers

By
Christine Reid

A woman from Brooklyn, N.Y., and a man identified as her brother were charged with drug trafficking after police officers allegedly found more than a pound of marijuana and 30 ounces of cocaine in their vehicle during a traffic stop in Hennessey.

Liang Xuhang, 59, of Antioch, Calif., and Yanli Li, 46, of Brooklyn pleaded not guilty last week in Kingfisher County District Court to trafficking in cocaine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

They both were released Monday from the Kingfisher County Criminal Justice Center on $20,000 bond.

They are due back in court at 3 p.m., Oct. 13, according to online court records.

Hennessey Police Officer Brad Logan stopped a 2021 Ford Expedition about 9:47 p.m. Sept. 11 for allegedly speeding on S.H. 51 about a half mile east of Mitchell Road.

Logan reported smelling a strong odor he associated with marijuana when he approached the SUV to speak to Li, the driver, and Xuhang, the passenger.

Logan gave Li a municipal citation for speeding and then removed both vehicle occupants to conduct a search, with the assistance of Officer J. Loper.

The officers allegedly foundalargevacuum-sealed bag containing a green, leafy substance which later field-tested as marijuana and weighed 1.189 pounds.

They also found a plastic zipper bag containing a white, powdery substance which later field tested as cocaine and weighed just over 30 grams, according to Logan’s report.

A purse located in the vehicle also allegedly contained a quantity of cash in large bills, five pills that tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamine (which Li said were her “party pills”) and a spoon with trace amounts of cocaine.

Loper also allegedly found a stack of hundred dollar bills rubberbanded together in Xuhang’s pocket when he was searched after his arrest, according to the police report.

The total amount of cash confiscated in the search was $4,196.21, the officers reported.

If convicted, Li and Xuhang face possible sentences of up to 20 years in state prison on the trafficking charge and up to five years on the charge of possession with intent to distribute.

They also face fines of at least $25,000 on the trafficking charge and up to $25,000 on the charge of intent to distribute.

State law also allows civil forfeiture of both the vehicle and the cash if either is tied to illegal drug activity, but no forfeiture petition had been filed as of press time Tuesday afternoon.