Chongqing concludes appeal of drug trafficking case involving virtual currency money laundering, defendant sentenced to 8 years in prison

Odaily News The Fifth Intermediate People's Court of Chongqing recently concluded an appeal case involving drug trafficking using the new method of "Internet + virtual currency + logistics mail". From August 2021 to July 2023, the defendant Zhang contacted drug buyers through WeChat and other means, mainly selling marijuana, "stamps" and other types of drugs. Zhang handed over the purchased packaged drugs to a special person for safekeeping. After reaching a transaction intention with the drug buyer, he provided the drug buyer with a virtual currency website. After confirming that the drug money was collected in the form of virtual currency, he placed an order on a courier platform, and the drug custodian handed the drugs over to the courier platform to deliver them to the drug buyer, and Zhang paid the drug custodian. According to statistics, Zhang placed orders through the courier platform, and the drug custodian delivered drugs on his behalf for a total of more than 1,600 times; collected funds through virtual currency accounts for a total of more than 1,200 times; and withdrew the collected virtual currency to his Alipay, WeChat and bank card through multiple layers of transfer, accumulating more than 400,000 yuan. Chongqing No. 5 Intermediate People's Court held that the first instance sentencing defendant Zhang to eight years' imprisonment and a fine of RMB 100,000 for drug trafficking and money laundering was appropriate, and upheld the original verdict. (China Anti-Drug)