History and Leadership of the Group
Chinese triads originate from secret societies that have been prevalent over the history of China. These groups began to be labelled as triads by Europeans in the seventeenth century (Purbrick, 2019). In the twentieth century, triads were outlawed by both Communist government and British colonial authorities (Wang & Kwok, 2022). Nevertheless, there are allegations that the current Chinese government uses triads to suppress pro-democratic forces (Varese & Wong, 2018). The leader of each triad has the title of a dragon master (Paoli, 2020). Triads are not a single criminal organization, but rather are a number of groups operating independently.
Group Structure
Due to the large number of triads, there is no unified hierarchy that fits all Chinese crime groups. Although older Chinese triads followed a rigid hierarchy, modern groups are less structured (Paoli, 2020). Triads encompass tens of thousands of people, not all of whom are necessarily criminals (Varese & Wong, 2018). Nevertheless, triads have associational crime structures, which rely on the sense of belonging among group members and brotherhood values (Lo & Kwok, 2017). Triads have mafia-like secrecy, which prevents members from exposing the identity of their superiors.
Key Operations and Estimated Size
Interactions with local people constitute an essential element of the work of triads. Key operations include ensuring territorial control, protection, and extra-legal governance (Lo & Kwok, 2017). Triads control seek to control specific territories and ensure their dominance, which implies elimination of competition. The number of members in triads can be extremely high reaching up to tens of thousands. For instance, the largest triad Sun Yee On is estimated to encompass 25 000 members (Paoli, 2020). However, this number also includes people who are not directly engaged in criminal activities, obfuscating the real number of perpetrators.
Criminal Activities
Triads engage in a wide variety of crimes, however, they are mostly associated with drug trafficking, money laundering, and counterfeiting. In 2020, the leader of one of Chinese most influential triads 14K was accused of “drug trafficking, illegal gambling, racketeering and human trsfficking” (U.S. designates Chinese organized crime leader, 2020, 00:47). Some triads are also reported to generate massive profits of prostitution (Purbrick, 2019). However, triads are involved in less known criminal activities, such as trafficking of endangered animals.
Law Enforcement Initiatives
Officially, all triads are illegal in China and other countries. A common concern is the influence of crime groups, which has caused China to implement anti-corruption regulations (Wang & Kwok, 2022). At the same time, there are known cases when law enforcement officers side with triad members to control the spread of criminal activities (Lo & Kwok, 2017). In casinos, where triads wield substantial influence, junket persons are licensed. Overall, law enforcement initiatives are directed at preventing specific crimes rather than target the entire organization.
Impact on Security
Triads are a powerful force both in China and the international level. Regional security is directly affected since triads have a large number of followers among local populations and are commonly viewed as patriotic (Purbrick, 2019). International security is challenged due to the wide spread of large Chinese triads, such as 14K and Sun Yee On, that have outlets in many countries around the world (Wang & Kwok, 2022). Triads can affect global stability indirectly by working with the Chinese government, which is suspected to have utilized triads in suppressing pro-democratic protests (Varese & Wong, 2018). Ultimately, the impact of triads’ actions is felt most in China.
References
Lo, T. W., & Kwok, S. I. (2017). Triad organized crime in Macau casinos: Extra-legal governance and entrepreneurship. British Journal of Criminology, 57(3), 589-607. Web.
Paoli, L. (2020). What makes mafias different?. Crime and Justice, 49(1), 141-222. Web.
Purbrick, M. (2019). Patriotic Chinese triads and secret societies: From the imperial dynasties, to nationalism, and communism. Asian Affairs, 50(3), 305-322. Web.
Varese, F., & Wong, R. W. (2018). Resurgent Triads? Democratic mobilization and organized crime in Hong Kong. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 51(1), 23-39. Web.
Wang, P., & Kwok, S. I. (2022). Hong Kong triads: The historical and political evolution of urban criminal polity, 1842–2020. Urban History, 1-23. Web.
U.S. designates Chinese organized crime leader in anti-corruption sanctions (2020). Web.