A Chinese citizen and two coast guard officers were arrested following the alleged kidnapping of a crew member in the port of Mar del Plata. According to the federal prosecutor of the Mar del Plata Fiscal Unit, Santiago Eyherabide, the Chinese citizen was detained for unlawfully depriving a crew member of their liberty for three and a half hours, while two members of the Argentine Naval Prefecture were also arrested for suspected bribery to facilitate the kidnapping.
The incident took place on March 17 around 10:30 PM when two Chinese citizens, employees of a fishing vessel in the port of Mar del Plata, were returning home by taxi after dining downtown and were intercepted by three individuals in a gray Amarok truck. The Chinese individuals were forced to get into the vehicle by the armed assailants; one was released immediately, while the other was held for three and a half hours before being released at the same location where he was kidnapped.
Investigations revealed that the kidnappers had previously prowled the area. The prosecutor's office confirmed that on previous occasions, the suspects had attempted to enter restricted areas of the port seeking a supposed "friend," offering money and mentioning a debt of 70 thousand dollars. A member of the organization was arrested after being identified by social media posts related to the case.
Additionally, it was determined that the suspects had met with two agents of the Argentine Naval Prefecture before and after the kidnapping. Evidence of money transfers and gifts made by the Chinese citizen to the prefects in relation to the crime was found. In their statements, the prefects did not provide accurate information about what happened, leading to their subsequent detention.
