ASTAN ORGANIZED CRIME
TRIADS
A.
ANALYSIS
o Triads are the oldest of the Chinese Organized Crime (COC)
groups active in the United States.
o Triads evolved from secret societies organized during the
17th century to overthrow the Manchu Dynasty.
o Following the formation of the Republic of China in 1912,
criminal elements took over the societies and began operating them as OC entities.
o The Royal Hong Kong Police estimate that Triads in Hong
Kong claims tens of thousands of members in 50-55 separate organizations. The largest and most active are the Sun Yee On, the 14K and the Wo Hop To.
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more than
o Taiwan has an abundance of Triad associations
700 different gangs grouped under six major syndicates. The largest is the United Bamboo followed by the Four Seas Gangs:
o Most Triad Societies participate in a wide range of
criminal activities including money laundering, drug trafficking, gambling, extortion, prostitution, loan sharking, and pornography. More sophisticated Triads are also attempting to monopolize the live Chinese entertainment and Asian video cassett market from Hong Kong.
o Law enforcement officials recognize Triad movement to the
U.S. as occurring in three distinct phases. The first during the gold rush and expansion period of the 1800's; the second during the communist victory in China in 1949; and the third during the Hong Kong corruption scandals of the mid-1970's.
'riad societies in the U.S. are known to be involved in illegal gambling, drug trafficking, prostitution,
extortion, murder, firearms violations and alien smuggling.
o Most Active in U.S.
* Revised 2/92
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