How Chinese takeaway worker led police to Bitcoin worth £3bn in Britain's biggest ever cryptocurrency seizure
Within weeks of arriving in London in September 2017, Yadi Zhang, also known as Zhimin Qian, orchestrated a sophisticated scheme involving Bitcoin that led to a monumental seizure of cryptocurrency in the UK. Jian Wen, who became involved in this operation, has now been found guilty of money laundering charges, although she claimed to have been unaware of the scam's origins.
Jian Wen's journey from working in a Chinese takeaway to living in a lavish mansion near Hampstead Heath was swift. Her newfound wealth, allegedly from a jewelry business that spanned multiple countries, allowed her to indulge in designer goods and luxury lifestyles. However, suspicions arose when she attempted to purchase multi-million-pound properties without a clear source of income other than Bitcoin.
The unraveling of this elaborate scheme began with a police raid in October 2018, leading to the discovery of over 61,000 Bitcoin, valued at £1.4bn at the time. Further investigations revealed the extent of Zhang's fraudulent activities, which defrauded thousands of Chinese investors and amassed a staggering £5bn.
Despite Wen's claims of innocence and being misled by Zhang, the court found her guilty of money laundering between October 2017 and January 2022. While prosecutors are not pursuing additional charges, Wen's involvement in laundering the proceeds from the Bitcoin scam remains a significant part of this complex case.
The Police say they are still actively looking for Zhang
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