E Jing Network News (Chutian Metropolis Daily) reported by Wu Changhua, special reporter Zhao Jun, correspondent Wang Wenping, Hou Bo, and intern Ba Yang.
Since July last year, a "drug trafficking company" quietly formed in Wuhan, evolving into a vast drug trafficking network. The daily sales of drugs reached more than 100,000 yuan, with cumulative sales amounting to about 30 million yuan.
On the night of March 22 this year, Wuhan Railway Police caught three suspects transporting drugs on a train. After continuous investigation, they arrested 29 suspects, seized nearly 20 kilograms of drugs, and confiscated over 1 million yuan in drug money. This "March 23 Special Case" involved so many people and such a large quantity of traded drugs that even the participating police officers were surprised. "This is the largest drug case we have cracked since the founding of New China, and it is also the first time we have broken up a group-based, company-operated mega drug case," said the special investigation team of the Wuhan Railway Police yesterday. They disclosed the case before the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as a deterrent to drug traffickers and a warning against the severe drug situation.
In a soft sleeper compartment, there was actually the smell of methamphetamine pills.
At around 11 p.m. on March 22, when the Z45 train from Wuchang to Hangzhou was near Huangshi, police officer Peng Guangning found a man and two women in a soft sleeper compartment acting suspiciously, and there was a whiff of methamphetamine in the air. There was only one police officer on this direct train. Peng Guangning checked their IDs under the pretense of checking tickets and then quietly exited, immediately reporting to the Wuchang Railway Police Team of Wuhan Railway. Upon investigation, it was found that male passenger Xiangxiang (29 years old, Hangzhou native) had previously been sentenced to three years in prison for robbery. Wuhan railway police immediately informed the Shanghai Railway Public Security Bureau and requested reinforcements.
At dawn on the 23rd, officers from the Hangzhou Public Security Office boarded the train in Yiwu and searched out 0.99 kilograms of ketamine from the backpack of Yingying (female, 23 years old, Wuhan native); they found 0.98 kilograms of ketamine and 1034 "fei zi" (a type of new drug) from the luggage of Xiangxiang and Wenwen (female, 24 years old, Wuhan native).
On the morning of the 23rd, six Wuhan railway police officers flew to Hangzhou, searching out several drugs and account books from the cohabitation place of Xiangxiang and Wenwen. That night, they escorted the three back to Wuhan.
The case was significant, and the Director of the Wuhan Railway Public Security Bureau, Wang Shanyong, appointed Tong Guangming, known as the "Eagle-eyed Detective", as the commander, and mobilized dozens of police forces from three criminal investigation teams to form the "March 23" special investigation team. The Provincial Department of Public Security listed this case as a supervised case.
"Climbing stairs" to dig deeper, Qi Boss surfaced
Tong Guangming personally interrogated them, quickly breaking through their psychological defenses. They confessed that the source of the drugs was Sheng Mou (alias, male, 27 years old, Wuhan native).
"Investigating this case is like climbing stairs, catching people layer by layer," the special investigation police introduced. On the evening of March 24, Sheng Mou was secretly captured while selling drugs on Jinhantan Avenue. The special investigation team continued to track Sheng Mou, obtaining information about several associates.
On the evening of April 9, Sheng Mou was caught along with two girls in the elevator of his rented residential complex. Soon after, Zhuang Zhi (alias, male, 36 years old, Wuhan native), who supplied drugs to Sheng Mou, appeared in the same neighborhood and was arrested by the police. The two women and one man accompanying him were also controlled. The police found a batch of drugs and drug money at both Sheng Mou's and Zhuang Zhi's residences.
Zhuang Zhi confessed: The day before, he called his superior Qi Lin (alias, male, Wuhan native) to request 4000 methamphetamine pills, at a transaction price of 140,000 yuan. He also mentioned that Qi Boss does "big business" and rents a place in Jiyuqiao, Wuchang.
Police intercepted car and fired gun, stunning the drug trafficker into surrendering
On April 25, monitoring police discovered that Qi Lin suddenly moved out of Jiyuqiao.
At around 9 a.m. on April 29, when Qi Lin completed a drug transaction in Xudong and was blocked in his car, the police seized on the spot over 30,000 methamphetamine pills and more than 80,000 yuan of unspent drug money.
The police understood the reason for Qi Lin’s sudden move: One of his subordinates was arrested in another case by Wuchang police, and Qi Lin feared being exposed and transferred.
The special investigation team seized various types of drugs weighing 11,407.68 grams and 350,000 yuan in drug money from Qi Lin's rented residence. That evening, seven investigators were counting the spoils inside the room when a knocking sound came from outside the door. When the investigators opened the door, three men ran away. One of the men ran to the parking lot and tried to escape by car. Investigator Old Liu shouted "Stop!" The man sat in the car; Old Liu fired a shot into the air, but the man started the car. Old Liu rushed to block the front of the car, pointing the gun at him and shouting, "If you run me over, I'll shoot you!"
After a tense standoff lasting five minutes, the suspect finally lowered the window, hands on his head, and got out of the car to surrender. All three men were caught on the spot. It was found that the three were respectively Qi Lin's driver, deliveryman, etc.
Such thrilling standoffs are commonplace when arresting drug traffickers. On April 30, Qi Lin's mobile phone received a text message from another drug trafficker Fengfeng asking to buy drugs.
Previous intelligence indicated that Fengfeng might have a gun, keeps the engine running during transactions, doesn't count the money, and leaves immediately after exchanging goods and money.
The investigators met Fengfeng driving Qi Lin's car. After stopping, investigator Old Li suddenly pulled out a gun and pointed it at Fengfeng's driver's forehead; investigator Old Liu held an iron rod blocking the right side, cutting off Fengfeng's escape route. Fengfeng was caught on the spot. By April 30, the "March 23" special case had resulted in the arrest of 29 suspects, seizing nearly 20 kilograms of various drugs.
With finance, warehousing, everything present, drug trafficking company operates corporately
"We found that this is a tightly organized, clearly divided, and corporately managed drug trafficking group. They have buyers, deliverers, drivers, financial personnel, and warehouses. Their 'business' scale is extraordinarily large and quite rare," explained the special investigation team yesterday, revealing the inner workings of the drug trafficking gang:
Wu Ming originally operated a karaoke lounge in Xiaodongmen, Wuchang district, and Qi Lin operated a karaoke hall in Xijiapeng. Due to the karaoke lounge not being profitable, starting from last Spring Festival, Qi Lin began buying drugs to sell in the karaoke lounge.
Qi Lin's "customers" rapidly increased, and the demand for drugs grew larger. Starting from June last year, he became partners with his superior Wu Ming, where Wu Ming was equivalent to the chairman and Qi Lin equivalent to the general manager. They funded and split profits according to shares.
Qi Lin and his partner agreed to manage the group corporately, clearly defining each person's role and setting wage payment standards. For example, Chengcheng was responsible for managing the drug warehouse, with a monthly salary of 5000 yuan. Chaochao was responsible for delivering drugs and collecting payments, receiving a daily wage of 100 yuan and a vehicle subsidy of 400 yuan.