Chongqing has concluded an appeal case involving drug trafficking and money laundering with virtual currency, and the defendant has been sentenced to 8 years in prison

ChainCatcher news, the Chongqing Fifth Intermediate People's Court recently concluded an appeal case involving drug trafficking using a new method of "Internet + virtual currency + logistics mailing."

From August 2021 to July 2023, the defendant Zhang contacted drug buyers through WeChat and other means, primarily selling marijuana and "stamps" and other types of drugs. Zhang entrusted the packaged drugs to a dedicated person for safekeeping, and after reaching a transaction intention with the drug buyer, provided the buyer with a virtual currency website. After confirming the receipt of drug funds via virtual currency, Zhang would place an order with a certain express delivery platform, and the drug custodian would deliver the drugs to the buyer through the express platform, while Zhang paid the drug custodian a fee.

According to statistics, Zhang placed orders through the express platform and had the drug custodian deliver drugs a total of over 1,600 times; received funds through virtual currency accounts a total of over 1,200 times; and withdrew the received virtual currency to his Alipay, WeChat, and bank cards after multiple transfers, accumulating over 400,000 yuan.

The Chongqing Fifth Intermediate Court, after legal review, found that the first-instance sentence of eight years imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 yuan for the defendant Zhang for the crimes of drug trafficking and money laundering was appropriate, and upheld the original judgment.