Chile’s El Barrio Meiggs region has become a center for the ‘Bang Clan’, a Chinese criminal group originating from Fujian province. Involved in various illegal activities like drug trafficking and human exploitation, the organization poses a significant challenge for Chilean authorities. The area, known for its karaoke bars and Chinese malls, has seen a discreet rise in criminal operations.
Antonio Castillo, a Latin American journalist, highlighted the growing presence of Chinese organized crime in El Barrio Meiggs. The group engages in a range of illicit activities, leveraging legal businesses as a front. Former Minister of Public Security Luis Cordero emphasized the mafia’s use of formal economic structures for illegal operations, including human trafficking and drug trade.
Chilean police uncovered substantial Chinese criminal activities in El Barrio Meiggs during operations in August and December 2025. Mayor of Santiago, Mario Desbordes, confirmed the significant presence of a large Chinese mafia in the neighborhood, with numerous arrests and seizures of weapons and money. The Bang Clan, rooted in southern China, has historical ties to criminal networks and has evolved into a globalized criminal organization.
In a major operation named ‘Operation Great Wall’ in December 2025, Chilean authorities targeted the Bang Clan in El Barrio Meiggs, resulting in the arrest of multiple individuals, including Chinese nationals and a police officer. The report also mentioned formal legal proceedings initiated against members of another Chinese mafia group in the city of Iquique. The ‘Clan Cheng’, led by a Chinese family, was under scrutiny by Chilean authorities. Data from the Observatory of Organized Crime and Terrorism indicated a significant rise in the detention of Chinese nationals in Chile over the past five years.
