Explore B.C.’s underground economy and uncover the massive money laundering network driving crime and corruption.

Table of Contents

Jian Jun Zhu

In the shadowy underbelly of British Columbia, an empire thrives—built not on goods or services but on illicit fortunes, hidden transactions, and a chilling disregard for human life.

It is a world beneath the surface of everyday life, where the lines between legality and crime blur and billions of dollars change hands in the shadows.

This is the story of Jian Jun Zhu, one of B.C.’s most notorious figures, whose life—and death—offer a rare glimpse into this hidden world.

A Shot in the Dark: The Night That Changed Everything

It was a typical evening at a Richmond sushi restaurant—until a single bullet shattered the calm, ending the life of Jian Jun Zhu.

For the unsuspecting diners, the gunfire was a terrifying reminder that the world of crime and violence is never as far away as we would like to think.

However, this was not just a random act of violence—it was a glimpse into a hidden world where billions of dollars flow in the shadows and justice is often elusive.

Before that fatal moment in 2020, Zhu was alleged to be one of British Columbia’s most prolific money launderers.

His operations were vast and sophisticated, part of an underground economy that remains largely invisible to the public eye.

As the director of Silver International, an underground bank, Zhu was at the center of a network that moved over $80 million in just five months in 2015 and as much as $220 million annually.

His job?

Turning the dirty money of cartels and other criminals into what appeared to be legitimate funds.

However, Zhu’s story raises more significant questions: How massive is British Columbia’s underground economy?

Moreover, if the police cannot bring people like Zhu to justice, why should any money launderer fear the law?

B.C.’s Hidden Economy: Bigger Than We Ever Imagined

The scale of B.C.’s underground economy is staggering.

It is an industry that rivals some of the province’s most significant legitimate sectors like mining or tourism, yet operates entirely out of sight.

According to conservative estimates from a 2019 report by an expert panel, the underground economy could be worth up to $7.5 billion annually.

That is larger than the tourism industry’s contribution to the economy, which was about $5 billion in 2021 and comparable to the mining sector’s $5.9 billion.

However, unlike tourism and mining, the narcotics business—a significant part of this underground economy—pays no taxes. The toll of fentanyl trafficking alone is devastating, from targeted shootings to the staggering number of overdose deaths.

It is an economy that employs thousands of British Columbians yet leaves the public to bear the costs of policing, healthcare, and lost lives.

The report, chaired by law professor and former deputy attorney general Maureen Maloney, pointed out a startling fact: not all organized crime revenues are laundered.

A significant portion is reinvested directly into the business in cash payments or purchases.

In the drug trade, about 20 percent of the cash is reinvested, while the remaining 80 percent needs to be laundered to hide the proceeds from the authorities.

This underground economy is not just hidden in plain sight but embedded in the fabric of B.C.’s society. As far back as 2004,

the Fraser Institute’s Stephen Easton estimated that the illegal cannabis industry alone was worth $2 billion annually.

Today, even with the legalization of cannabis, a significant portion of the trade remains underground, with about 30 percent of users still accessing the illegal market.

This massive illicit trade incubated the growth of violent cocaine and bud-smuggling operations that now traffic in fentanyl.

The Players Behind the Scenes: Who Was Jian Jun Zhu?

Jian Jun Zhu was not just a name in a headline—he was the mastermind behind a sophisticated money-laundering operation.

As the director of Silver International, Zhu controlled an underground bank that laundered millions for drug cartels and other criminals.

His network was vast, moving money faster than most legitimate banks, and his operations were integral to the underground economy in B.C.

However, Zhu’s connections were dangerous.

The night he was killed, he was dining with Paul King Jin, another critical figure in the shadowy world of money laundering.

Jin, who was injured in the shooting, was a target of the RCMP’s massive E-Pirate investigation.

This multi-year effort collapsed in 2018 due to inadvertent disclosures and administrative errors.

Although Jin escaped prosecution, the company he kept proved to be deadly.

Two other guests at the restaurant that night were later killed in separate shootings.

Even if Richard Reed, the man accused of firing the shots that killed Zhu, is convicted, it is unlikely that British Columbians will ever learn who ordered the hit or why.

The Silver International saga is just the tip of the iceberg regarding money laundering in B.C., and the accurate scale of this shadow economy remains largely unknown.

Unseen, Unheard, Untouched: The Shadow Economy Around Us

This hidden economy is not confined to dark alleys and backrooms—it is all around us.

From law offices to real estate deals, its influence pervades everyday life.

It is an economy that operates in the shadows, where billions of dollars change hands, and justice is often an afterthought.

Imagine an economy as large as tourism or mining but operating entirely in the shadows.

This is B.C.’s underground economy—a powerhouse that generates billions while evading the public eye.

Given the size of the narcotics business and the underground economy, it is reasonable to assume that its participants are all around us—in law offices, driving trucks, operating warehouses, and selling real estate.

Alternatively, perhaps even celebrating a deal at a restaurant.

When Jian Jun Zhu was killed and Paul King Jin narrowly escaped in 2020, it offered a brief and violent glimpse into a world that exists, unseen, all around us.

A System Built to Fail: Why Money Launderers Have Little to Fear

Frustrated by the collapse of the E-Pirate investigation, B.C. prosecutors attempted to seize at least some of Zhu’s wealth through a civil forfeiture action against his wife, Caixuan Qin.

After years of legal battles, the province settled for $1 million in cash, jewels, and casino chips—less than the average daily turnover at Silver International.

The message seems clear: B.C.’s money launderers have little to fear from the police. They need to watch out for the others in their illicit business.

As British Columbia continues to grapple with the dark undercurrents of its underground economy, one thing remains certain: the shadowy world of money laundering and drug trafficking is far from being dismantled.

It thrives in the system’s cracks, a hidden economy that shows no signs of slowing down.

Conclusion: The Elusive Pursuit of Justice in B.C.’s Underground World

As the shadowy empire continues to thrive, we are left with a chilling question: If justice cannot reach the depths of this underground world, what hope do we have of ever bringing it into the light?

The story of Jian Jun Zhu and the vast underground economy he was a part of is more than just a tale of crime—it is a story of a system that, for now, seems powerless to stop it.

This is not just about money laundering—it is about the very fabric of society in British Columbia.

The underground economy is all around us, hidden in plain sight, and until the system finds a way to penetrate these shadows, the question remains: who will be next to fall in this unseen, untouchable world?