A Double Homicide, the Chinese Mafia and Counterfeiting!
By Domizio and Paolo Beconcini
Chinese Counterfeiters Are Everywhere—Not Just in China
On April 15, 2025, Zhang D. and his wife were riding their bicycles home along the cobblestone streets of Rome when two men on a scooter approached and fired six gunshots. Both victims were killed instantly by fatal head wounds. The attackers had been lying in wait, and the method of execution bears all the hallmarks of a mafia-style hit.
Zhang D. was the target. He had been on trial for a criminal investigation dating back to 2018, involving human trafficking and the distribution of counterfeit textiles and apparel in Prato—Europe’s largest textile hub, located just 40 minutes from Florence, Italy. According to Italian judicial records, Zhang D. was a member of the Chinese mafia, with confirmed ties to criminal networks based in mainland China. Early reports suggest this killing was the result of a turf war between rival gangs vying for control over Prato’s lucrative counterfeit clothing trade (source: La Nazione).
The incident is a stark reminder that Chinese counterfeiters operate across borders, and that their influence now extends well beyond China. Prato is home to one of the largest Chinatowns in Europe and has become a central node in the continent’s textile and apparel supply chain. In May 2024, Italian authorities seized over 10 million counterfeit garments from major luxury brands in Prato—part of one of the largest anti-counterfeiting operations in Europe (source: La Repubblica).
Lessons to Keep in Mind
The assassination of Zhang D. underscores several critical truths:
Counterfeiters are not isolated actors—they are embedded in larger transnational criminal networks.
Organizations like the Chinese mafia rely on counterfeiting to fund other illicit enterprises, including human trafficking and money laundering.
Chinese counterfeiters operate globally, with the ability to evade tariffs, enforcement actions, and legal boundaries through well-established international networks.
Most importantly, counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. It fuels organized crime, exploits vulnerable populations, and undermines legitimate businesses and legal systems.
This tragic episode should serve as a wake-up call. Counterfeiting is not just an IP issue—it is a serious threat to public safety, economic integrity, and the rule of law.
