Chinese Geocriminality in LAC? Disentangling State and Non-State Chinese Actors

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the rise of Chinese “geocriminality” in Latin America and the Caribbean, arguing that Chinese transnational organized crime cannot be understood separately from deepening China–LAC economic and migratory ties. Moving beyond a narrow law-enforcement lens, it introduces the concept of a “Silk Road of Crime,” in which Chinese criminal networks exploit the same trade routes, diaspora communities, financial systems, and regulatory gaps that underpin legitimate engagement. Drawing on investigations by Earth League International, ProPublica, and others, the chapter documents four converging illicit markets: fentanyl precursor trafficking to Mexican cartels, low-cost “Flying Money” laundering schemes, wildlife trafficking (including jaguar parts and shark fins), and human smuggling along “the route” from China through Latin America to the US border. It details networks linked to Fujian-based groups and triads, highlighting patterns of crime convergence and the use of cryptocurrencies, shell companies, and diaspora businesses. While direct CCP command-and-control links remain limited, the chapter argues that selective enforcement, corruption, and strategic ambiguity create permissive conditions. Ultimately, Chinese geocriminality reflects the dark side of complex interdependence, reinforcing dependency structures and complicating US, Chinese, and regional cooperation.