You are thinking inside the law.
Why would anyone who is smuggling anything of flying under the radar so
to speak care about the legalities of Gross weight and Within balance?
Michelle

wrote:

I've read this was a 172P model (but not confirmed it). I'm still
trying to figure out how they got four adults into the plane with a
valid W&B. I guess that an FAA action is awating this along with other
more urgent law enforcement actions!