La Plata police raid Chinese Chamber of Commerce in organized crime probe

Argentine authorities conducted a raid on the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in La Plata as part of an ongoing investigation into a Chinese organized crime group. The operation, led by the Federal Police's Fiscal Crimes Department under Prosecutor Juan Cruz Condomí Alcorta, aimed to uncover documentation regarding the entity's operations and its leadership structure.

Despite initial resistance from a member of the Chamber, investigators seized several key documents. These include organizational charts, records of individuals holding various positions since 2018, and police reports containing photographs of written threats. Other seized materials include documents mentioning the entity's board of directors, commercial addresses, payment slips, and collaboration agreements with gaming houses.

The Chamber is a central focus of the investigation due to its alleged links to Ke Deqiang, known as “Matías,” a suspected leader of the criminal organization. Deqiang was arrested in 2022 for extortion but remains a fugitive after escaping from a police station. Previous operations in the region have already resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of weapons and mobile devices.