Chinese triads are rapidly expanding their operations in Spain, where they are basing human trafficking operations to Europe, according to Spanish police.
Antonio Salinas, Spain's anti-corruption prosecutor, said triads and other organised crime groups had thrived in Spain because the authorities had been overwhelmed by the sheer scale and sophistication of their organisation.
'Spain is attractive to the triads because they can launder the cash they make easily here,' Mr Salinas said.
'We have identified at least 40 front companies which they use to buy up property or land or false companies.'
Police in Barcelona this week arrested two triad bosses who were accused of subjecting Chinese businesses in Spain to extortion. Police said one extortion victim was stabbed 25 times then shot but managed to survive.
The men who were arrested were named only as Ziyong Z, 23, and Zimo Z, 35, and police said they had been involved in organised crime since the late 1990s. Zimo Z, whose arrest record in Spain stretches back to 1997, already has convictions for smuggling illegal Chinese immigrants into Spain.