Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 68 - 64: Obtaining Foreign Exchange by Deception

Chapter 68: Chapter 64: Obtaining Foreign Exchange by Deception

Imported goods can only be purchased with Foreign Exchange Certificates.

The Friendship Store has gotten slightly better in the past two years, but during the first few years, ordinary people were not even allowed to enter. It’s like a privilege, making foreigners seem superior to Chinese people.

Director Chen always felt stifled, and with a slight nod, he signaled to continue.

"These Foreign Exchange Certificates are issued by the People’s Bank, but not just freely given to foreigners and returning overseas Chinese. They have to exchange US Dollars for them at the official exchange rate of the People’s Bank when entering the country.

If they enter the country this year, that means they have to use 1 US Dollar to exchange for 3.7221 Foreign Exchange Certificates.

If they spend all the Foreign Exchange Certificates they have exchanged within the country, there’s nothing to say. But if they don’t spend them all, they can exchange them back to US Dollars at the official rate of the People’s Bank when leaving, paying only a small handling fee."

Seeing the thoughtful looks on everyone’s faces, Han Yu leaned over to pick up Director Chen’s calculator and walked to the blackboard: "How they make a profit is complicated, and I can’t explain it in a short time, so let me show you the calculations for our leaders."

Director Chen laughed: "Good, calculate it."

Han Yu, like a teacher in a class, wrote a string of numbers swiftly on the blackboard, then quickly calculated with the calculator, continuing to write and explain on the board.

"We now know that Ye Xingguo, Zhang Asheng, and others exchanged fifty-six thousand two hundred fifty RMB with Shi Xiantang, and received forty-five thousand Foreign Exchange Certificates at a rate of 1:1.25."

"If they exchange the certificates with newly arrived Indians at a higher than official rate, say 1:6, then they could get seven thousand five hundred US Dollars.

Let’s assume they then exchange it at a black market rate of 1:10 with those in need, they will get seventy-five thousand RMB, a neat profit of eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty!"

Director Jiang suddenly realized and murmured to himself: "When the Indians leave the country, they can exchange the Foreign Exchange Certificates back into US Dollars at the official rate of the People’s Bank, and they also make a profit."

"They used only seven thousand five hundred US dollars to get forty-five thousand Foreign Exchange Certificates. When they leave the country at the official rate of 1:3722, they can get back twelve thousand and ninety US Dollars, a clean profit of four thousand five hundred and ninety."

Han Yu put down the chalk and returned the calculator to Director Chen and went back to his seat. After thinking for a while, he said:

"Of course, the rates I just mentioned are hypothetical, we don’t yet know the exact details of how Ye, Zhang, and Shen exchanged with the Indians, or at what black market rate they exchanged US Dollars afterward, but one thing is certain, they made a profit, and a significant one at that."

So there is so much to it...

Zhang Junyan was full of admiration for Xu Sanye in far away Bailong Port, realizing that Xu Sanye’s words about not fighting a battle without certainty were not a joke.

Director Jiang and Chief Zhou then started to consider how to proceed with the investigation.

Director Hu from the Political Security section was not great at math, felt a bit dizzy listening, and couldn’t help but ask: "Ye, Zhang, Shen made money, the Indian sailors made money, even the two suspects who sold the Foreign Exchange Certificates to Ye, Zhang, Shen made money, so who lost in the end? It’s impossible that everyone profited."

Han Yu shook his head with a wry smile: "The nation has lost; this is not just some common sale of Foreign Exchange Certificates. They are colluding with foreigners to defraud the nation’s foreign exchange."

No matter how large the amount involved, just hearing the nature of the case, it is known to be very serious.

Zhang Junyan frowned tightly and said: "They knew when foreign ships docked at the port, knew when the crew members would rotate for leave, even knew that the disembarking foreign sailors had US Dollars!"

Compared to defrauding the nation’s foreign exchange, Director Hu, who was in charge of Political Security, was more concerned about what Zhang Junyan mentioned, suddenly raising his head:

"Director Chen, there must be an insider, and not just any insider!"

Director Chen nodded and touched the corner of his mouth, "The problem likely lies with the Ship Agency. Only the Ship Agency would understand the situation of crew rotation, not only understand but also assist with the relevant procedures."

Director Hu couldn’t help but ask: "So how do we proceed with the investigation?"

Director Chen had a clear train of thought and analyzed: "Based on the intercepted calls, those few Indians probably don’t trust them much, guessing they would call them to go to East Sea to find a bank to exchange.

It’s likely that there wasn’t any transaction at all, they just needed to show up, help them exchange the Foreign Exchange Certificates into US Dollars, take the commission, and leave."

Director Jiang suddenly interjected: "That’s also a crime."

"Definitely a crime, you all first combine the evidence and clues you have, and work out an investigation plan. I’ll go upstairs to call and report to the superiors. After all, we have to go to East Sea to make an arrest, and those to be arrested are foreigners. Without specific instructions from the superiors, it is very unlikely that East Sea will assist us."

"Yes."

"Little Salted Fish, you’ve done a great job this time. Once this case is closed, I’ll make sure to reward you."

Han Yu did not dare take credit for the work of heavens, hurriedly saying: "Director Chen, all these are based on the analysis of the situation we have understood from Director Xu."

"I know Director Xu, he indeed has the capability, but... but it’s not his turn nor does he need my reward."

Time was of the essence, Director Chen stood up, patted Han Yu on the shoulder, and without turning back, left the meeting room.

Now that they roughly understood how the suspects profited, the next step was to formulate the investigation plan.

First and foremost, we must understand the principle of "where there’s buying, there’s selling," and gather evidence around this principle.

Zhang Junyan, Director Jiang, and Director Hu discussed and decided to split into four teams tomorrow, one to stay in Binjiang to investigate and collect evidence.

Because the crew members who boarded the ship this afternoon might have been involved; at the very least, they would have helped the suspects communicate with those Indian crew members.

One team will follow the three suspects and those Indian sailors who are departing to East Sea Airport, and once the Indian sailors have exchanged their Foreign Exchange Certificates for US Dollars and Ye, Zhang, and Shen have all left, they will take coercive measures against those Indian sailors.

Another team will continue to follow Ye, Zhang, and Shen to see who they actually sell the exchanged US Dollars to.

As long as they transact with someone, the entire chain of evidence will be complete.

As for how much they sold to someone and whether they have sold any before, once they are caught, there are ways to make them talk, and we can collect evidence based on their statements afterwards.

Another team will be responsible for investigating the internal traitor.

Because arresting the Indian sailors must be reported to the ship agency, it is necessary to notify the Ship Agency and explain the reasons for their arrest to the foreign shipping company and even the shipowner.

Otherwise, it easily becomes an international incident that can affect the overall situation of reform and opening up.

Furthermore, there might be a mole within the Ship Agency, so while we need to notify them, we also can’t let the news leak to alert Ye, Zhang, and Shen, making this team’s task incredibly important.

Our current manpower is definitely not enough...

Zhang Junyan was thinking that arresting those six Indians would require at least ten officers when Director Chen returned from making his phone call.

The Political Commissioner, both Deputy Directors, the Political Office Director, and the Head of the Office hurriedly arrived at the meeting room.

Director Chen had Zhang Junyan give a brief report of the case to the Political Commissioner and them, and decisively stated: "The police force from the two police stations is already stretched thin and cannot be further redirected.

Given the seriousness of the case and the lack of personnel, the entire party committee of the bureau and the staff from the office will need to participate in the operation.

Let’s assign tasks now, Political Commissioner, you’ll stay at home and be in charge of communication and coordination with Border Inspection and other departments in order to facilitate the first team’s investigation and evidence collection;

Old Huang, there might be a mole within the Ship Agency, but the problem might not necessarily originate from our side in Binjiang. You’ll personally command the fourth team, and contact their headquarters directly."

"Yes!"

"Old Li will be in charge of the third team; when we get to East Sea, whether it’s keeping an eye on those suspects or arresting them, we’ll need the support of the East Sea Police Department. Without sending a deputy director from our side, they might not take us seriously."

Director Chen glanced at his notebook and added: "I will be in charge of the second team, specifically targeting those six Indians!"

With his order, the Political Office Director and the Head of the Office hurried out to notify the police from each division to pack their bags and stand by at the bureau.

Han Yu truly felt the tense atmosphere before the impending battle.

At this moment, Zhang Junyan couldn’t help but ask, "Director Chen, what did the superiors say?"

"The superiors are taking this very seriously; they will report to the Ministry of Police overnight. They’ve ordered us to wait for instructions and to prepare for the arrests."

Director Chen lifted his arm to glance at his watch, then continued, "I’ve called Old Du across the river, will take a boat across the river with Director Qian soon, and borrow a car to go to East Sea overnight to wait for instructions from the superiors at East Sea Police Department’s Airport Division."

"That’s great, Director Chen, having you personally lead the team gives us more confidence."

"The main thing is that it involves foreigners; it would be difficult to arrest people at the airport if I don’t go personally."

Director Chen took a small sip of water from his teacup, turned around, and asked, "Little Salted Fish, which team are you on?"

"Reporting to Director Chen, I’m on the second team, I’ll be going to the airport with Director Jiang and Chief Zhou tomorrow."

"Those suspects recognize you; taking the same boat tomorrow might risk exposure, go get your luggage quickly, you’re leaving with me later."

Han Yu was well aware that at this point in the investigation, his going to East Sea wasn’t crucial.

However, as a representative of the Yanjiang Police Station, he had to go.

If he didn’t, Xu Sanye would surely be displeased.

Thinking about the chance to see airplanes, and possibly even take the opportunity to visit Lin Xiaohui, Han Yu grinned and said: "Yes!"

...

PS: Received notice from the editor, this book will go live on the 24th of this month. I couldn’t help but update it tonight to let all my readers know.