We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
OKLAHOMA CITY -The accused ringleader of a billion-dollar illegal marijuana operation in Oklahoma was released on Wednesday from the Oklahoma County Detention Center. Jail officials confirmed Chen was released to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office.
An Oklahoma County judge set Hao Chen’s bond at $100,000 on Tuesday after the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office did not show up to his arraignment hearing.
AG Gentner Drummond issued a statement expressing serious concern that Chen was given a lower bond than the $1M his office requested.
Chen is the accused head of a $1.5B black market marijuana operation that was based in Oklahoma. He was arrested in New York when the AG’s office rolled out “Operation Blunt Force” last month. The AG’s office responded to questions about bond and the possibility of Chen and his co-conspirators fleeing the country during a press conference about the operation.
“That is certainly something we will continue to monitor as well and if they do run, we’ll go find them,” said Dane Towery, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office.
When asked how defendants are being monitored, Towery responded saying the AG’s office will monitor them.
“To see if they come to court, if they’re in constant contact with their defense attorney and that’s the vest we can do at the point,” said Towery.
Chen’s attorney Scott Adams told News 9, “Mr. Chen has never been a danger to the community nor a flight risk. Mr. Chen who is proudly a U.S. citizen looks forward to his day in court.”
Court records show Chen has been required to wear a GPS monitor.
The AG’s office arrested 19 people with ties to the “Hao Chen Organization.” A multi-county grand jury returned an 18-count felony racketeering indictment last year.
The AG’s office sent News 9 the following statement:
“The Attorney General’s Office was not notified of Hao Chen’s arraignment and therefore did not have an opportunity to be present, despite contacting the court in advance to determine when the matter would be set. Yesterday afternoon we went before a district judge seeking a $1 million bond based on the serious nature of the allegations and the danger Chen poses to the community.
🇦🇪🍔⚠️— BREAKING : Dubai will soon run out of food due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the head of the logistics company Kühne + Nagel, Paul.
▶️There is 10 days of fresh food left there. Theoretically, provisions can be transported overland from Saudi Arabia, but the available capacity is not enough to replace the cargo of at least one container ship.
▶️Up to 20,000 containers can be transported on a single vessel, a volume that is almost impossible to compensate for with trucks.
Jet fuel spot prices have increased by 140% since the Feb. 27, 2026, closure of the Strait of Hormuz following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. This surge, driven by fears of a severe supply shortage for low-inventory refined products, has driven Asian prices to over $225 per barrel.
Key Impacts of the Jet Fuel Surge:
Massive Price Jump: The spot price for jet kerosene rose 140% from a Feb. 27 close of $93.45 a barrel.
European Impact: In Europe, jet fuel prices soared by more than 140%, reaching their highest levels since 2022.
Profit Margins: The profit margin for producing jet kerosene from Dubai crude jumped to over $100 a barrel.
Airline Response: Major airlines are hedging large percentages of their fuel needs into 2027 to manage the crisis.
Supply Chain Disruptions: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has blocked a route that typically handles about 20% of the world's crude oil.
Even if the conflict is resolved, the disruption to supply chains is expected to cause ...
