The crackdown on organized crime began with the arrest of the mother-in-law.

Chapter 818 Clues in the Gastric Solution, Zhao Qiang's Wife

There were some undigested food residues remaining in her stomach. Zhang Lin carefully observed the shape and color of these residues, then used a pipette to draw up some of the gastric juice and put it into a test tube.

She placed the test tube into the centrifuge. As the centrifuge spun rapidly, the various components in the gastric solution gradually separated into layers. Zhang Lin stared intently at the centrifuge, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. After the centrifuge stopped, she removed the test tube, used a dropper to collect the clear liquid from the top, placed it on a glass slide, and observed it under a microscope.

At first, the scene under the microscope appeared normal, but when Zhang Lin adjusted the focus and magnification, her eyes suddenly lit up. In the microscope's field of view, tiny crystal particles appeared, regularly shaped and shimmering with a faint light. "What is this?" Zhang Lin murmured to herself, her heart involuntarily racing.

Based on her years of forensic experience, Zhang Lin initially determined that the crystals might be residues of some kind of special drug. She immediately conducted a chemical analysis on the crystals, and after a series of complex testing procedures, the results showed that the crystals were a new type of hallucinogenic drug, extremely rare on the market and very expensive.

Zhang Lin quickly informed Qin Chuan of this discovery. "Director Qin, we found traces of a new type of hallucinogenic drug in Song Ming's gastric solution. This drug is very likely the reason why he was unconscious before he was murdered."

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan's eyes flashed with excitement, and his previously furrowed brows relaxed slightly. "Well done, Forensic Doctor Zhang! This could very well be the key to breaking through the case. Immediately investigate the distribution channels of this drug in Dongzhou City and see if we can follow the trail to find any suspicious individuals who have been in contact with Song Ming."

After Qin Chuan assigned tasks, the atmosphere in the conference room of the Dongzhou Public Security Bureau was as heavy as the deathly silence before a storm. Case files were piled high on the table, and a projector on the wall was displaying photos of the crime scenes. The entire criminal investigation team was stuck in a dilemma, surrounded by these files and photos.

The novel hallucinogenic drug discovered by forensic pathologist Zhang Lin in the gastric solution of Song Ming's body has become the only clue that may break the deadlock in the case, and an investigation into this drug is urgently needed.

The criminal investigation team responsible for investigating the drug distribution channels acted swiftly, their figures traversing every corner of the city. Their first stop was major hospitals in Dongzhou City.

The investigation at major hospitals in Dongzhou City is necessary, and the pharmacy departments immediately began cooperating after seeing the police's coordination in the investigation.

The criminal investigation team meticulously reviewed the hospital's drug procurement records, scrutinizing every page and focusing intently on the densely packed drug names and purchase dates. Simultaneously, they provided the pharmacists with detailed descriptions of the new psychedelic drug's characteristics, from its appearance to its chemical properties, leaving no detail overlooked.

“This drug is extremely rare; it has never appeared on our hospital's procurement list. Moreover, the procurement and use of such special drugs are subject to strict regulatory procedures, and we couldn't possibly overlook it,” a senior pharmacist said earnestly, adjusting his glasses. The criminal investigation team then questioned doctors in various departments about whether they had ever heard of or used such a drug, and the answers were all negative. Several days of investigation across major hospitals throughout the city yielded no results.

However, the criminal investigation team was not discouraged at all. They immediately turned their attention to pharmacies throughout the city. From large chain pharmacies on bustling commercial streets to small private pharmacies in secluded alleys, they left their footprints everywhere. In a chain pharmacy located in the old city, the store manager warmly received the criminal investigation team. The team carefully checked the drug purchase records, examining each entry from the beginning of the year to the present, leaving no suspicious drug name unchecked. The store manager watched nervously from the side, answering the criminal investigation team's questions from time to time. "Our drug purchases are all through legitimate channels, and every batch is recorded in detail. We really haven't purchased this strange drug," the store manager said.

In a small, privately owned pharmacy in a secluded alley, the clerk recalled that about a month ago, a somewhat blurry-looking person had inquired about similar medication, but the store was out of stock at the time. The criminal investigation team immediately became excited. They quickly retrieved the pharmacy's surveillance footage, but unfortunately, the image quality was too poor; only a general outline could be seen, and the person's face could not be identified. Nevertheless, this clue rekindled the team's hope, and they continued to investigate further along this line of inquiry.

Besides legitimate medical institutions and pharmacies, the police also extended their reach to underground locations potentially involved in illegal drug trafficking. These places were rife with dangerous and chaotic activity, but the detectives were undeterred. Disguised, they infiltrated suspicious gatherings. Under dim lights, deafening music filled the air, and crowds danced wildly in the smoke. The detectives carefully observed their surroundings, searching for any clues related to drug trafficking. They secretly met with informants; in cramped, dimly lit corners, the informants whispered vague information, but the veracity of this information was difficult to ascertain, temporarily stalling the investigation.

Just when everyone was feeling somewhat discouraged, a criminal investigation team member discovered an important clue during an investigation of an online drug trading platform.

The platform's transaction records showed that an account had purchased this new type of hallucinogenic drug two months prior, and the account's registration information belonged to Zhao Qiang. This discovery was like a beacon in the darkness, exciting yet perplexing the criminal investigation team. They were excited because the case seemed to have a new direction, but perplexed because Zhao Qiang had previously been proven to have a clear alibi.

To verify the situation, the criminal investigation team immediately conducted another search of Zhao Qiang's residence and questioned his family. Faced with police questioning, Zhao Qiang's wife, Li Fang, initially appeared flustered, but after patient persuasion from the team members, she finally revealed the truth. It turned out that Li Fang's father suffered from a severe neurological disorder and had long endured pain, with conventional drug treatment proving ineffective. Li Fang had heard by chance that this new type of hallucinogenic drug might help alleviate her father's condition, and without informing Zhao Qiang, she purchased the drug online using his account.

Police subsequently conducted a detailed investigation into Li Fang's account. They contacted Li Fang's father's attending physician, confirming that his condition was indeed serious and that conventional treatments had limited effectiveness. They also used technical means to trace the IP address used to purchase the drugs, confirming that the purchase was made on Zhao Qiang's computer at home, and the timing matched Li Fang's description. Although Zhao Qiang's account was linked to the purchase of hallucinogenic drugs, the actual buyer was his wife, and the purpose of the purchase was to treat a family member's illness; it was not directly related to Song Ming's case.

This unexpected turn of events brought the case to a standstill once again.