Police in Nanjing have cracked what is believed to be the largest gold theft case ever solved in China, recovering all 27 kilograms of stolen gold jewellery and arresting 11 suspects involved in the crime.
According to Chinese authorities, the stolen gold was valued at more than 27 million yuan (approximately RM16 million).
Investigators revealed that two of the key masterminds behind the operation held master’s degrees and were driven to crime after accumulating massive debts through online gambling.
The case came to light on May 16 when 37 gold items mysteriously disappeared from a jewellery store in Nanjing.
Police investigations later uncovered a carefully planned operation involving multiple suspects who had reportedly conducted repeated reconnaissance visits to the shop more than a month before the theft.
Authorities identified Wang, the alleged mastermind, as the person responsible for coordinating the operation, while Tong carried out the theft and Zhang acted as an accomplice responsible for logistics and support.
Following the robbery, Tong fled Nanjing in a ride-hailing vehicle and travelled thousands of kilometres towards Nanning in Guangxi.
In an unusual twist, Tong reportedly used half of a gold bar to pay the driver after being unable to settle the approximately 7,000 yuan fare in cash.
Police tracked him down on May 18 in Ningming County, Guangxi, just about 100 metres from the China-Vietnam border.
Investigators said Tong had been on the run for two days and two nights without rest and was waiting for people-smugglers to help him leave the country illegally.
Officers arrested him and recovered 8.75 kilograms of stolen gold during the operation.
Meanwhile, Wang boarded a flight to Bangkok, Thailand, on the day of the theft.
He was arrested by authorities in Thailand on May 23 before being deported back to China on May 29.
Subsequent searches of several properties and hiding locations linked to Wang led to the recovery of an additional 13.2 kilograms of gold.
Another suspect, Zhang, was arrested on May 21 at Wenzhou Longwan International Airport while allegedly attempting to flee.
Police investigations later revealed that Wang and Tong became acquainted online and both possessed master’s degrees.
Wang was reportedly employed by a major telecommunications company in Nanjing and was regarded as a high-performing employee.
Authorities said both men accumulated gambling debts amounting to several million yuan during their university years, eventually resorting to criminal activities in an attempt to escape their financial troubles.
With all 11 suspects now in custody and the entire cache of stolen gold recovered, authorities have described the case as one of the most significant gold theft investigations ever concluded in China.
