The Accused’s Defense: A Confession Under Duress in the Vicinity of the Chinese Mafia’s Shadow

Adriana Amado, a 34-year-old woman, has been detained for nearly 72 hours, facing accusations of complicity in a homicide allegedly orchestrated by the organization known as the "Chinese mafia." In her statement to authorities, Amado did not deny her presence at the crime scene in Carapachay, Vicente López, but presented a starkly different narrative. She claims that she and her partner, Luis Ayala, a retired gendarme who was once part of the elite Alacrán unit, were at the location only after being threatened by the alleged shooter, identified by Amado as "Sebastián." These details were conveyed to LA NACIÓN by qualified judicial sources, shedding light on a complex investigation that points towards organized crime operating within the community.

The victim, 36-year-old Jian Chen, a businessman, was shot on Friday evening. He was seated in his 4×4 vehicle when the attack occurred. Despite sustaining a fatal gunshot wound, Chen managed to exit his vehicle and collapsed at the entrance of a Chinese supermarket owned by his aunt, succumbing to his injuries shortly thereafter. The investigation into this targeted killing is being spearheaded by Gastón Larramendi, the prosecutor for Vicente López. Ayala and Amado were apprehended on Monday by detectives from the Buenos Aires Province Police, marking a significant development in the case.

The Prosecutor’s Account of the Fatal Encounter

Prosecutor Larramendi, during his interrogation of Ayala and Amado, provided a chilling account of the events leading to Chen’s death. He stated, "Chen was surprised by one of the indicted males who, acting treacherously and with certainty of success, opened the passenger door, deliberately placing the victim in a state of defenselessness, ensuring the outcome of his illicit actions, and fired a shot with a firearm at his face, the projectile entering through his mouth and exiting the left side of his neck." The suspects reportedly arrived at the scene of the crime in a dark Peugeot 208.

Amado’s Testimony: A Claim of Coercion and a Third Party

Luis Ayala, the retired gendarme, invoked his right to remain silent and refused to testify. Adriana Amado, however, opted to provide her account, specifically identifying "Sebastián" as the individual who fired the fatal shot. Her testimony, delivered during her arraignment, painted a picture of duress and manipulation.

"Sebastián showed up at my home, pressuring Ayala, telling him to take us, that he had to collect some money owed to him," Amado stated. "Ayala told him I wasn’t going, that I would stay with my baby. But he insisted and said, ‘She has to accompany us.’ I knew they were going to pay him some money that was owed to him, supposedly to Sebastián. When we arrived at the location, he told us to wait, that he was going to get the money. When he approached and we heard the shots, we left. We went to my house afterwards."

Amado further elaborated on the sequence of events within the Peugeot 208. According to her statement, Ayala was driving, she was in the passenger seat, and "Sebastián" occupied the rear of the vehicle. She expressed surprise at the shooting, noting that Sebastián had never shown her he was carrying a firearm. During the drive to Carapachay, Amado described the alleged hitman as "aggressive" and stated that he treated both her and Ayala poorly.

"Sebastián responded very violently and insulted us throughout the journey. He told me: ‘You have a son, I’m going to blow his head off,’ and he threatened Ayala’s daughters," Amado recounted, highlighting the alleged intimidation tactics employed by the unidentified individual.

The Chronology of the Crime and Pre-Attack Surveillance

Security camera footage indicates that the fatal attack occurred at 8:36 PM. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes prior to the shooting, Ayala and Amado made a purchase at the "El Remanso" supermarket, which is owned by the victim’s aunt. A police chief, speaking anonymously to LA NACIÓN, suggested that this seemingly innocuous purchase may have served as a reconnaissance mission. "The purchase they made was a way to study the victim’s movements," the official stated.

The meticulous analysis of footage captured by municipal and private security cameras has been instrumental in reconstructing the criminal plot. Detectives from the Superintendence of Security Region AMBA Norte I, led by Commissioner General Lucas Borge, and the Sub-Delegation of Departmental Investigations (SubDDI) of Vicente López, both branches of the Buenos Aires Provincial Police, have been working to identify the suspects. The investigation suggests the involvement of a third individual, who allegedly acted as the shooter, according to judicial sources.

The Alleged "Chinese Mafia" Connection and Motive

Judicial sources have indicated that the hitman, reportedly hired for $5,000 by elements of the "Chinese mafia," fired from the moving vehicle while the victim was seated in his truck. This detail suggests a level of premeditation and execution characteristic of organized crime operations. The visual evidence from security cameras corroborates this, showing Jian Chen exiting his damaged truck, struggling to walk a short distance before collapsing on the sidewalk in front of the supermarket.

The identification of Ayala and Amado was facilitated by the analysis of security camera footage and data obtained from the ownership of a virtual wallet used to pay for the purchases made during the pre-attack intelligence gathering.

Arrests and Evidence Seized

Luis Ayala was arrested on Monday in Merlo. During a search of his residence, officers from the Buenos Aires Provincial Police seized an anti-ballistic vest bearing the initials GNA (Gendarmería Nacional Argentina), two 9mm pistols, a .22 caliber pistol, ammunition, and a mobile phone. The presence of GNA-marked equipment raises questions about Ayala’s potential connections or continued access to resources from his former elite unit.

Previous Threats and a Rivalry Uncovered

Further complicating the investigation, Huang Yuan, the victim’s partner, testified as a witness and revealed a history of threats against Jian Chen. Yuan stated that in March of the previous year, while they were renovating a "gift shop" business in Buenos Aires, an individual known as "Paisano," of Chinese nationality, had threatened Jian Chen.

"Yuan said that last March, while they were renovating the premises, the person known as Paisano appeared and threatened his partner with death. He told him not to open the business because 150 meters away he had one of the same type. And Chen Jian also told him that if they killed him, the culprit would be El Paisa, because he had warned him that he would pay the Chinese mafia to kill him," judicial sources informed LA NACIÓN. This prior threat suggests a potential ongoing conflict or rivalry within the business community, possibly linked to extortion or market control, which may have escalated to fatal violence.

The Broader Implications of Organized Crime in the Region

The alleged involvement of the "Chinese mafia" in this homicide raises significant concerns about the reach and operational methods of organized criminal groups in the region. The connection to extortion, targeted assassinations, and the use of intermediaries suggests a sophisticated and ruthless network. The investigation is likely to explore the extent of this criminal organization’s influence, its methods of operation, and its potential ties to other illicit activities. The involvement of a former elite gendarme in such a case also points to potential vulnerabilities within law enforcement or a complex web of personal entanglements. The prosecutor’s office faces the challenge of untangling these threads and bringing all responsible parties to justice, while also seeking to dismantle the criminal enterprise that may have orchestrated the killing. The case underscores the persistent threat posed by organized crime and the need for robust investigative efforts to combat it.