BEIJING - The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has busted gangs that were engaged in blackmailing Chinese supermarket owners in Argentina, as well as recovered the victims' money, according to a statement released by the Ministry on Wednesday.

Criminal gangs that have emerged in the Chinese community in Argentina since 2011 have extorted protection fees from local Chinese supermarket owners, as well as threatened their lives.

The MPS dispatched a police team to Argentina and worked with local police to investigate the gangs, busting several of them and arresting multiple suspects who were allegedly involved in blackmail, kidnapping, homicide and organized human trafficking.

Police authorities in east China's Fujian Province have apprehended a number of suspects who fled Argentina to return to their home country.

Police have returned over 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) that was extorted from the supermarket owners to the victims.