IPNEWS: Recently the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, reported the establishment of a criminal network (mafia) in Liberia operated by some Chinese purporting to be investors with links to the Triads criminal gang.
Renewed investigation has established that these Chinese mafia are involved in a major money laundering scam using Liberia as hideout of their criminal activities.
Several sources, told the authoritative Independent Probe that these Chinese are lundering money between Liberia, Ghana and south Afirca using Chinese owned casinos to clean their dirty money.
Agents of the Financial Intelligence Agency confided in IPNEWS that there is ongoing investigation into how some Chinese nationals are conducting the movement of monies into Liberia as there were scanty information about their transfers of money in to Liberia.
However, IPNEWS investigation reviews that some of the Chinese mafia monies brought into Liberia are laundered through a Lady only identified as ‘Linda’, who is said to be the source of many of the dozens Chinese transfers into Liberia daily.
IPNEWS investigation further reveals that this group of Chinese mafia are also involved with Smuggling of various kinds of good into Liberia without the knowledge of the Liberia Revenue Authority.
A case of a Chinese businessman, Shun Feng, who was arrested by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for allegedly attempting to smuggle a 40-foot container of goods into the country, bypassing proper revenue laws.
In march 2025, controversial Chinese national Yang Dan in a high-profile scandal, was arrested and charged in a case involving alleged manipulation of business partners and possible corruption within high-ranking Liberian officials at the ports.
These cases highlight ongoing issues with foreign entities, particularly Chinese nationals, operating outside Liberian laws in the natural resource sectors and in business, prompting various law enforcement actions.
Between 2023 and 2025, serval Chinese nationals have been arrested for illicit activities in Liberia.
In 2024, Several groups of Chinese nationals with links to this same ‘Triads’ international Chinese mafia gang were arrested by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for engaging in illicit gold and black sand mining across different counties, including Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Rivercess. These operations were in violations of Liberian environmental management laws and operating without proper permits or in areas under an official closure order.
A Chinese-flagged fishing vessel, the ‘Guo Ji 809’, was also arrested by the Liberian Coast Guard in January 2018 for illegal fishing in Liberian waters with an expired license. Officials noted that the majority of those caught fishing illegally in Liberian waters were Chinese nationals.
According to sources both Chinese and Liberians associates, the ‘triads’ affiliate group intends to overtake Liberia hospitality businesses such as Hotels and Casinos operations in a bid to widen the groups operations within the tiny west African country.
The Triads, is a organized Chinese criminalized group roaming the west AFRICAN REGION suspected of being involved in various illicit activities across Africa, particularly West Africa.
Many of this group recent operations are known to move timber, wildlife products (such as pangolin scales and rosewood), gold, and diamonds from Liberia and other Parts of Africa to the Asian markets.
Liberia, with its porous borders and issues in regulating artisanal mining, has become a hotspot for the Triads smuggling operations.
Importantly, Money laundering is a significant part of the group’s operations according to sources within the National SECURITY Agency Who told IPNEWS on condition of not to be named. Liberia has been noted as a country of concern for money laundering, with some cases involving international wire transfers from countries where Chinese criminal activity, such as Ecuador and Slovakia.
