Police arrest duo after raid over 'Chinese mafia' supermarket threats in Mar del Plata

Argentine police have carried out a major operation in Mar del Plata following an investigation into threats linked to a group described by authorities as the “Chinese mafia,” resulting in two arrests and the seizure of a large sum of cash and firearms.

The case began after a Chinese supermarket owner, identified in local media as Chen Jian Iao, reported receiving threats tied to the planned opening of a new shop in the coastal city. Among the messages was graffiti warning: “If you open the store, we will kill you,” painted in red – a colour the victim said symbolised blood.

According to local media reports, the investigation gathered pace after a series of complaints and intelligence work, including CCTV analysis and surveillance, which allowed authorities to identify suspects allegedly connected to extortion schemes targeting members of the Chinese business community.

Based on the evidence collected, police carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations, including properties located a few blocks from the targeted shop. The operation led to the arrest of two suspects, identified in two local media outlets as Ni Fei, 38, and Liao Deping, 36.

Authorities said more than 180 million pesos in cash was seized, along with two 9mm pistols, ammunition, mobile phones, documents and a vehicle believed to have been used in connection with the threats.

Prosecutors have brought preliminary charges of coercion against the suspects, while one of them also faces accusations of illegal possession of a firearm, reported Noticias Argentinas.

Investigators believe the threats were part of a broader structure dedicated to pressuring supermarket owners through intimidation and possible extortion linked to commercial disputes.

Authorities in Argentina often use the term “Chinese mafia” to refer to loosely organised groups accused of extorting Chinese-born shopkeepers, particularly in the supermarket sector. Officials say such groups typically operate by demanding protection payments, using threats or acts of violence against those who refuse to comply.

Chinese-run supermarkets – widely known locally as “chinos” – have become a fixture of urban life across Argentina since a wave of immigration from China, particularly from coastal provinces such as Fujian, gathered pace in the 1990s and early 2000s. Many new arrivals entered the retail trade through family and community networks, opening small, independently run grocery stores in residential neighbourhoods.

These shops, often operating long hours and offering everyday goods, expanded rapidly during and after Argentina’s 2001 economic crisis. Today, they are estimated to number in the thousands and play a key role in the country’s retail food supply, especially in areas where larger chains have a limited presence.

Security experts and community representatives have previously warned that some of these businesses are vulnerable to criminal networks, citing language barriers, limited access to formal financing and tightly controlled supply chains as factors that can make reporting threats more difficult.

– TIMES/NA