A man who first came to the attention of police as part of a money laundering investigation has been jailed for a string of offences, including human trafficking. 

Zhaoqian Yu age 34 of Derryfield Court, Oldbury, Birmingham, appeared at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (2 July) where he pleaded guilty to four charges and was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison. 

Following a complex investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), Yu pleaded guilty to human trafficking, controlling prostitution for gain, conspiracy to import cannabis, and transferring criminal property. 

Yu was arrested in February this year on arrival at Stanstead Airport from Dubai and has been remanded in custody since.  

SWROCU’s Money Laundering Investigation Team first opened their investigation into Yu back in 2019 when they uncovered a money laundering network in Gloucester which Yu had links to. Following further leads, they discovered he was involved in other criminality.  

Between November 2017 and September 2019, Yu, along with others, was controlling prostitutes at a premises in Birmingham. As part of his role running the brothel, in September 2019 he trafficked a sex worker from London to Birmingham, fully aware the woman was being exploited. 

Between August 2018 June 2019, Yu transferred £347,000 in cash to individuals living and working at a Chinese restaurant in Gloucester who were operating an underground banking service. Yu was fully aware this money was the proceeds of crime. 

Between December 2018 and October 2021 Yu conspired with others to illegally import cannabis. Whilst Yu was aware of a total of 119 kilos of cannabis having been imported, he was evidenced to have personally arranged for 34 kilos of the class B drug to come into the UK with the intention of passing it on to others.  

DC Katie Andrews from SWROCU’s Money Laundering Investigation Team said: “This has been an extremely complex case with a significant amount of material needing to be translated and reviewed.  

“The further we looked into Mr Yu the more it led us down different avenues of investigation and unveiled an array of criminal activity. We will continue to pursue his co-conspirators and associates to ensure justice is served and our communities are protected from those who seek to exploit others and supply illegal drugs for financial gain.” 

Zhaoqian Yu

Cannabis imported by Yu