(CNN) The FBI has arrested two alleged Chinese agents and federal prosecutors have charged several others with working to silence and harass dissidents inside the United States — some even operating an “undeclared police station” in New York City.
Two individuals associated with an illegal police operation in Chinatown were arrested Monday and are expected to appear in federal court in New York on Monday, according to John Marzulli, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District. in New York.
The defendants allegedly operated an “undeclared police station” in Manhattan. It has been closed since a search warrant was executed at the location last fall, the spokesman said.
The Department of Justice has announced charges against 34 national police officers of the People’s Republic of China for harassing Chinese nationals in the US who are critical of the Chinese government.
All 34 of the defendants are believed to be living in China and remain at large, according to the Justice Department. The officials are part of a Chinese government effort called the “912 Special Project Working Group” to influence global perceptions of the People’s Republic of China, or PRC.
The agents allegedly used social media to post favorably about the PRC and attack their “perceived adversaries,” including the United States and Chinese pro-democracy activists around the world, the Justice Department said.
The agents were allegedly ordered by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, or MPS, to create and maintain accounts that appeared to be run by American citizens. Topics in their propaganda machine include US foreign policy, human rights issues in Hong Kong, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Covid-19 and racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd, according to prosecutors.
The agents also posted videos and articles targeting Chinese pro-democracy advocates in the US, the Justice Department said, some of which included death threats. In addition, agents allegedly used threats to intimidate people into skipping pro-democracy protests inside the United States.
This story has been updated with additional details.
