How we prosecuted Europe’s biggest crypto money laundering case
Case study from SEOCID
Specialist Prosecutor, Serious Economic Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID)
“I successfully prosecuted Europe’s largest cryptocurrency money laundering case in November 2025. Over 128,000 people in China fell victim to Zhimin Qian’s Ponzi- style fraud, suffering losses of around £600 million. Many were left destitute, unable to afford medical care or pay their mortgages.
“When Chinese law enforcement started investigating, Qian converted £20 million of the proceeds to Bitcoin and fled to the UK on a St Kitts and Nevis passport.
“Police were alerted when she tried to buy a multimillion-pound house in London. They raided her home and seized multiple electronic devices, revealing her crypto wallets.
“Specialist Prosecutors from our Serious Economic Organised Crime and International Directorate, including our Liaison Prosecutors based abroad, worked closely with UK law enforcement agencies and Chinese authorities.
“Victim video testimonies, obtained with the help of Chinese law enforcement, provided invaluable evidence to build a compelling case.
“Qian’s assistant Jian Wen was convicted of money laundering in March 2024 and sentenced to six years and eight months.
“When a dormant cryptocurrency wallet made a sudden £1.5 million transaction, police traced it to a York address where they arrested Qian. In November 2025, she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eleven years and eight months imprisonment. A further individual Seng Hok Ling, who assisted Qian, received four years and 11 months.
“The case secured the largest ever cryptocurrency seizure in the UK. The 61,000 Bitcoin recovered (worth £300 million at the time of seizure) is currently subject to Civil Recovery proceedings in the High Court.
“This is a powerful example of the complex cases our Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate deal with.”