The Origin of Asian and Chinese Gangs in
Chicago's Chinatown

Although there are many sub-gangs that have developed from Tongs and other Asian gangs, for example the Hip Sing that is often mentioned but not in detail, there were various criminal activities run in Chicago by another famous and notorious Asian gang, the Triads. As aforementioned, the Triads were first a secret society attempting to overthrow the corrupt Ch’ing Dynasty, however it has evolved into one of the greatest Chinese criminal organizations in the world. Symbolized by a triangle representing the union of heaven, earth, and man, the Triads having dealings in money laundering, drugs, prostitution, and many more, all of which I will discuss later. The Triads differ from other criminal organizations in that they follow a rigid structure or hierarchy that has existed for hundreds of years and is also the base for many other Asian gangs. A horizontal hierarchical structure is followed, with the San Chu, the center of the organization, Heung Chu, the ceremonial officer, Sing Fung, similar to a recruiting officer, Red Poles encompass many different jobs such as enforcers, hit-men, and usually have direct control with the operations of the Triad groups. Straw Sandal and White Paper Fans work with and have the same level of authority as the Red Poles but hey handle liaisons with other groups and the Fans are general administrators. Today, the rigid structure is much more relaxed, however the same model usually applies (Fuk 4). Officials are elected at annual or bi-annual meetings and any that wish to be successful must have a Red Pole rank, wealthy, and have the largest group of followers (Fuk). Other ways in which the Triads differ from traditional American criminal groups is that they have collections of loose-knit gangs instead of a monolithic organization. They follow a horizontal organization, independent from a power base unlike the mafia or other groups, which may diffuse power from a central core and have a rigid chain of command. The Chairperson has a limited influence and is only honorary. Also the Triads’ group is granted full autonomy, making a profit belong to the individual gangs unlike the mafia where the profit goes to the organization. The Triads as well as other gangs that follow this structure, such as the various Triad affiliated gangs (14K being most prominent in Chicago), settle disputes through negotiations and is made up similar to a fraternity, but dealing with criminal activities (Fuk 5). Perhaps it is because they follow this structure as opposed to others that Asian gang activity and violence is frequently noted in the news or in statistics. However, do not be fooled by their low numbers in violence, the Triads have their hand in everything from drugs and prostitution to extortion and white-collar crimes.

In 1949 the Triads were based in Hong Kong. However, with the massive amounts of people immigrating into the United States, the Triads took advantage of the open national borders to spread their business (Mahlmann 5). In 1989, the U.S. Department of Justice estimated that about 100,000 Triad members existed with more than fifty Triad sub-groups. The Triads have five major groups: the Wo Group, 14K (largest), the United Bamboo Gang, and the Four Season Gangs. The Triads that run rackets in Chicago, however, are the 14K Triads. The three major criminal activities that the 14K is known for in Chicago are drugs, money laundering, and illegal alien smuggling. Human cargo traffickers, or “snake heads,” ask for $15,000 to smuggle an illegal alien based in China into the United States often promised employment and a new stable life. Jim Brongiel of the Office of International Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois explained in a 1997 interview that many Chicago banks have close links to the 14K Triads and are involved with not only money laundering, but also counterfeiting and computer software theft. These banks often use the “international” label in their dealings to cover up the large amounts of money laundered into these banks (Richard C. 3). However, white-collar crimes are just a small part in the moneymaking game for Triads. The most lucrative and the longest racket would be the trafficking of opiates and drugs. Many drugs that come into the Triads hands are often produced and shipped out of the “Burma Triangle,” also known as the “Golden Triangle” involving Thailand, Laos, and Burma. The most common drug exported from the Triangle are opiates or “poppy-based” drugs usually producing “China White” heroin sold in bulk by Asian wholesale dealers and often sold by Chinese ‘merchants’ to black or Hispanic street dealers. The so-called “Asian Connection” is thought to be the source of a substantial part of heroin traffic in Chicago (Grant 3). Another popular drug to have been imported from the “Golden Triangle” is the smokeable form of a crystalline methamphetamine also known as “ice,” also produced in many other Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong (Richard C. 4). Today, however, these drugs are dealt by street gangs, what second generation Asian gangs have turned into. Second generation gangs, especially Asians, may make up a small percentage of the entire gang population but it is still a problem for most communities, especially on the Chicago’s north side. There is very little, maybe no research on this topic, even through it is a part of the Asian community. However, the Asian communities have their own problems when dealing with the authorities.