I'm not a genius detective

Chapter 153 Shao Fei is in a good mood
This is a major operation by the branch office, which includes raiding casinos and Phoenix Nightclub, arresting accomplices in operating casinos, and verifying whether Phoenix Nightclub is involved in prostitution.

The crackdown on prostitution in Qingchang is still ongoing. The fact that Phoenix Nightclub dared to open suggests that there wasn't much of a problem. However, since it's involved with a casino, the nightclub owner can only accept his bad luck and be considered an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.

The boss, Li Jingqian, seemed very calm and didn't care. He investigated and asked questions as needed, and was very cooperative.

The casino's bills and management personnel were the focus of the investigation. The Second Squadron of the Criminal Investigation Brigade took over the case in cooperation with the Public Security Brigade, while the First Squadron mainly focused on the case of Xiong Chuan's murder.

Upon inquiry, it was found that the casino's middle and upper management were unfamiliar with Xiong Chuan, while ordinary staff and some customers did remember him; he was a regular at the casino.

I only have a vague impression of them, but I don't know them personally, let alone any other information about them.

Currently, there are no clues linking Xiong Chuan's death to the casino. If there are still no results after investigating Shao Fei, this lead needs to be temporarily shelved.

Han Ling left the fifth floor and went to the nightclub, where he saw Xiao Ya being questioned. Unlike when she greeted him, the girl's face was now completely devoid of smiles. She answered questions tremblingly, worried about the future.

Just a few hours ago, they were discussing grand plans with Sister Meng, and a few hours later, Sister Meng was arrested as an accomplice to operating a casino. Sister Meng will definitely go to jail, and may even be fined.

I don't know how much of the money I earn will be left.

Making money through methods written in the criminal law is indeed fast, but the downside is that it involves risks, and every criminal should be prepared to lose everything overnight.

After a busy night, the police officers of the branch office's special task force integrated the information and determined that Xiong Chuan and Shao Fei were regulars at the Phoenix Nightclub and casino. Xiong Chuan's presence was not strong, but everyone had a deeper impression of Shao Fei.

Just yesterday, Shao Fei had been to the casino, but he just missed the raid.

It can't be said that he was lucky; it was only a matter of time before he was caught. The reason they didn't take action was because the anti-drug squad suspected Shao Fei of being involved in drug trafficking after a preliminary investigation, which conflicted with the task force's pace of handling the case.

The anti-drug squad wanted to play the long game with the drug mule, while the criminal investigation squad needed to obtain Shao Fei's confession immediately.

The two team captains are discussing a solution.

Early in the morning, Han Ling was fast asleep while waiting for breakfast. A gentle breeze blew through the open window, causing the spider plant to sway softly.

"Dinner's ready." Tong Feng came in and tossed a steamed bun in front of Han Ling.

Han Ling was woken up and subconsciously reached for a cup to drink water.

He often ate breakfast at Tong Feng's place. The first few times he offered to pay, Tong Feng refused, but he eventually got used to eating for free.

"When I become successful, I will never forget you," Han Ling said to Tong Feng.

Tong Feng: "Would I have been able to see that day a hundred years from now?"

Han Ling opened the plastic bag: "You're underestimating me."

After saying that, he saw Fang Zhou open the door and appear, so he asked, "Brother Zhou, how did the negotiations with Shao Fei go?"

In the case of Xiong Chuan's murder, Shao Fei is a key figure. We must question him face-to-face. Even if we don't get any results, at least we can rule out that possibility and focus our attention elsewhere.

As Fangzhou walked, he said, "It's almost done. Captain Ji's idea is that each of us will investigate our own cases, and we've reached a consensus."

"Each investigates their own case?" Tong Feng thought for a moment and then understood. "We can't mention drugs, right?"

Fang Zhou nodded: "Yes, we can investigate prostitution, we can investigate gambling, and we can ask about Xiong Chuan, but we absolutely cannot mention drugs."

Han Ling: "It seems that Shao Fei is a very important person; he's useful to the anti-drug squad."

Fang Zhou sat down: "It's not exactly crucial. He's just a drug mule. The anti-drug squad has a lot of suspects like him, but they rarely manage to trace the real mastermind behind him. Even when they do, he's usually just a peripheral figure."

These drug dealers are incredibly cunning.

Tong Feng: "If we catch him, we're done for. How can we not be meticulous? But if we investigate like this, it's a bit restrictive. We can't even search his house, right? What if we find drugs?"

Fang Zhou: "The anti-drug squad will find an opportunity to alert him and make him hide everything he needs to hide. We'll deal with that later."

"Uh." Tong Feng took a bite of his steamed bun. "Drug enforcement and criminal investigation are really different. They're constantly on the verge of a confrontation with criminals, unlike us, who can arrest them right after we've finished investigating."

Han Ling asked, "Brother Zhou, where is Shao Fei transporting drugs? Where is the source of the drugs?"

Fang Zhou: "It's within the province, but we don't know the exact location, let alone the source of the drugs. The anti-drug squad is very strict about keeping this information confidential."

Han Ling: "Oh."

Some people might wonder why drug trafficking is so risky yet highly profitable outside of border provinces.
I drive from one city to another, with some drugs in the trunk. Aside from getting caught by traffic police for drunk driving, who would bother to check my car?
This stems from a lack of understanding of drug control, a sense of complacency, and an underestimation of the risks and anxieties associated with drug trafficking.

Shao Fei must think the same way.

Unlike the fixed checkpoints in border provinces, the anti-drug strategies of inland police are more flexible and covert, like an invisible and dense net that covers almost all drug-related personnel in the city.

The anti-drug squad's operations are based on accurate intelligence. When a drug user is arrested, he will implicate many other people in order to reduce his punishment.

Then, those who gave their names in turn gave their names in turn, and so on, like a spider web.

Over time, anti-drug teams in every city will have a large number of relevant personnel. As long as you start using drugs, you will inevitably have direct and indirect contact with these people, and it is impossible to avoid it.

Ordinary people who abide by the law may not be checked while driving, but if they get involved with drugs through certain channels, they will easily come under the watchful eye of the anti-drug team, and then they are no longer ordinary people.

Therefore, don't oversimplify crime; there will always be a police officer smarter than you. After finishing their meal and resting for a while, Ji Bowen called a meeting.

The Second Squadron also participated; they are usually responsible for frequently occurring property crimes such as theft, fraud, and robbery.
The follow-up work of this gambling crackdown was carried out jointly by the Second Squadron and the Public Security Brigade. The interrogation of the confessions has been almost complete, and a lot of information has been obtained, but none of it is related to the case of Xiong Chuan's murder.

“There is another casino in Gu’an District,” the captain of the second squadron said at the meeting. “This casino is much smaller than the fifth floor of the Phoenix Nightclub. It is located inside a billiards hall. The difference is that the fifth floor of the Phoenix Nightclub is basically closed during the day, especially in the morning, while this casino is open 24 hours a day.”

He stated that the casino owner and the billiards hall owner at Phoenix Nightclub knew each other and there was not much competition between them because they catered to different customer groups.

Customers who go to Phoenix Nightclub are generally quite wealthy, while those who go to the billiards hall are relatively strapped for cash and play smaller stakes, sometimes as little as ten or eight yuan to get in and have a go.

It's similar to the arcade model that was popular a few years ago, with mahjong tables and card tables, but the environment is poor and there are many people at the bottom level.

Just like the difference between red-light districts in urban villages and upscale bathhouses, the former is cheap and of poor quality, while the latter is expensive, of good quality, and with good service.

Most of the gamblers who left the fifth floor of Phoenix Nightclub knew about the existence of the billiard hall casino and had been there occasionally, but not often, because the environment there was poor and the customers were a mixed bag, which could easily lead to conflicts.

The fifth floor of Phoenix Nightclub is still the safest, where guests can enjoy the dopamine rush from gambling without worry.

“Since yesterday, the anti-drug squad has been keeping an eye on Shao Fei. He’s in this billiard hall right now,” Ji Bowen said.

The meeting was simple, mainly a mobilization before the police operation. The First Squadron, the Second Squadron, and the Public Security Brigade would continue their joint operation to immediately shut down the casino.

The first squadron was responsible for Shao Fei, but the task fell to Han Ling and Tong Feng, while the others were still investigating Xiong Chuan from other directions.

The operation began immediately, with several police cars setting off and stopping at the entrance of the billiard hall twenty minutes later.

Police officers were also guarding the back door to prevent people from escaping.

Police officers stormed into the billiard hall, immediately breaking down a hidden door, surrounding the den of iniquity, and apprehending the gamblers and their funds, including the billiard hall owner.

Tong Feng and Han Ling navigated through the chaos, searching for Shao Fei's whereabouts.

"Why are there only three people? Where's the fourth one?"

Han Ling walked into a mahjong room, where the three of them sat down with their heads down.

“I went to the toilet,” one of the men replied.

Wow!

The sound of shattering glass came from the direction of the toilet. Upon hearing this, Han Ling turned around abruptly and rushed to the toilet door as fast as he could. Without hesitation, he kicked the door open.

Half of Shao Fei's body was already outside.

This is the third floor; jumping out would definitely result in injury. It seems he's trying to escape by climbing the air conditioner unit.

Han Ling rushed forward, grabbed the other person by the hair, and pulled him back.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch..." Shao Fei grimaced, his hair being pulled violently, tears streaming down his face. "Officer! I won't run anymore, I won't run anymore..."

Han Ling released his grip, took out handcuffs, locked the other person's wrists, and pulled him up.

"Shao Fei, right? That's the one I'm looking for," Han Ling said.

Seeing that the police had come specifically to arrest him, Shao Fei was terrified. All the color drained from his face, and his legs began to go weak: "I...I...I..."

His mental fortitude is very poor.

Drug-related offenses can land you in jail for life!

"Come on," Han Ling said, forcefully lifting Shao Fei up. "It's just a bet, why are you so scared?"

Shao Fei was taken aback: "Huh? They came specifically to arrest me for gambling?"

Han Ling: "No, we're here to see you because of Xiong Chuan. He's dead. Come with us."

"Dead?" Shao Fei asked in surprise, but also breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

My legs are no longer weak, my back doesn't hurt anymore, and I have more energy when I walk.

It was just gambling; at most he'd be detained for a few days. As for Xiong Chuan's death... it had nothing to do with him.

"Have you seen Xiong Chuan during this time?" Han Ling asked as they were escorting Shao Fei away.

Shao Fei was in a good mood and said cheerfully, "No, I haven't seen him in a long time. Officer, how did he die?"

Han Ling: "Let's talk again when we get back to the station."

……

P.S.: Chapter Two will be released at night.

(End of this chapter)