London Police published a video documenting the moment of the arrest of Qimin Qian (47 years old), who led one of the largest digital currency fraud operations in the world, after defrauding more than 128,000 victims through a huge “Ponzi” scheme in China.
From China to the largest seizure of digital currencies in Britain
The case began in China, where Qian raised billions of pounds through her company Lantian Gerui between 2014 and 2017. When the Chinese authorities discovered her plan, she fled to the United Kingdom carrying the money in the form of Bitcoin assets. Investigations later led to the largest seizure of digital currencies in British history, worth more than 5.5 billion pounds sterling.
A luxurious life under a fake name
Qian settled in the upscale Hampstead district of London, where she rented a luxury property for 17,333 pounds a month, claiming to run a successful jewelery company. She lived a luxurious life, moving between European countries and staying in luxury hotels, where she bought watches and jewelery worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Police raid in 2018 and an attempt to escape
In October 2018, London police raided her home for the first time after suspecting the sources of her money, where she gave the fake name “Yadi Zhang.” Officers discovered computers containing multi-million-pound Bitcoin wallets, but no arrests were made at the time, allowing her to flee the country and continue on the run for six years.
She was arrested after six years of stalking
In April 2024, police were able to locate her in the city of York in northern England after tracking Bitcoin transfers linked to her. The video shows the moment the police stormed into her room while she was in bed, stunned by the raid. Electronic devices containing huge Bitcoin wallets were seized at its headquarters.
Sentencing and imprisonment for many years
The court sentenced Qian to 11 years and 8 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and possession of illicit property. Her accomplice Seng Hock Ling (47 years old) was also sentenced to 4 years and 11 months in prison for his role in facilitating suspicious financial transactions. The third defendant, Jian Wen, who helped her manage her money, was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison on charges of money laundering.
Police message: There is no safe haven for illicit money
Will Lane, Head of Economic and Cyber Crime at London Police, said:
“Our message is clear — criminal assets are not safe in the UK, and we will continue to pursue anyone who tries to hide their money in digital ways.” The “Bitcoin Empress” is sentenced and $7 billion in digital currencies are confiscated
