An intermediary entrusted by a subsidiary of China Oil and Food Co. (COFCO), to help it buy land is under investigation for bribery, China’s National Audit Office announced in a report released last month.

According to the report, Chongqing-based Top Glory hired a cosmetics firm and a logistics business to help it buy land at an auction in 2005. One of those firms, Guanghai Logistics, is now under investigation for allegedly bribing the company running the auction.

Guanghai Logistics is also suspected of ties with the Chongqing mafia. In August 2005, gang leaders Chen Kunzhi and Gong Gangmo took control of the company, claiming it owed them interest on usury loans they have extended to the firm.

COFCO has denied Top Glory had any connections with organized crime.

In 2010, Chen Kunzhi was given a suspended death sentence and fined of more than 300 million yuan (US$46.27 million) for murder, running illegal casinos, money lending, and running an organized crime ring.

Gong Gangmo was given life imprisonment a month after Chen was sentenced.

上月国家审计署公布的审计结果称，“中粮香港旗下一子公司委托中介公司参与土地拍卖事项。司法机关正在立案调查中介公司及拍卖单位存在的行贿受贿行为”

2005年，中粮鹏利与重庆一化妆品公司和物流公司商定，由这两个公司协助中其拍到重庆的一块土地。重庆广海物流公司目前正在接受调查。

重庆广海物流公司同时存在涉黑行为。2005年8月，重庆市黑社会老大陈坤志、龚钢模介入，以广海物流欠高利贷为由，控制了广海物流。

中粮集团一直否认中粮鹏利与当地黑社会组织之间有关系。

2010年，陈坤志因犯组织、领导黑社会性质组织罪，故意杀人罪，非法经营罪，行贿罪，高利转贷罪，非法拘禁罪，赌博罪，被合并判处死刑，并处罚金3亿2万元。

龚刚模在一个月后，被判处无期徒刑。