30 Dark And Dangerous Secrets From A Triad

1. The largest triad in the world

Image source/ VICEThe largest triad in the world is Sun Yee On. The organisation works in China, and has branched out to the US, Canada, Thailand, South Africa and Australia which gives an image of how large scale this organisation is. Their illegal activities include trafficking, drugs, prostitution and smuggling amongst many others.

2. Someone turned spy

Image source/ Sky NewsA policeman named Anthony Chung from Hong Kong had joined the triad See Yun On. But, years into the triad he decided to turn again and ask the police for protection against them. In return he would spill information. He named and identified the leader amongst with many, many others as well as inside information about the triad which led to numerous arrests.

3. Murder is not unusual AT ALL

Image source/ blogspotMurder is commonplace amongst the lives of triad members. Not only are their powerplays within the individual triads as well as people who may be informers but also there are rival triads in which things often result badly. In 2012 a boss of See Yu On was murdered outside the Shangri-La hotel by members of another triad called the Wo Shing Wo.

4. Undercover police operation discovered hundreds of members

Image source/ gamorabAnd, in recent years there have been many police operations to take down organised crime. In 2012 a long and complex undercover police operation eventually brought down 222 triad members which led to their arrest. And then later another 102 members from Sun Yee On were arrested in China.

5. Triads are TOP secret

Image source/ YahooThe triads have not died out at all...and if you've ever heard about them, you probably don't know much about them. This is because it is TOP secret. The Triads are probably the most secretive of all illegal organised crime groups. And, for those involved they do not dare to reveal

6. Assassinations happen all over the world...

Image source/ YahooIt is thought that some of the old triads were asked to assassinate political members during the Chinese Republic era. Now, assassinations are still common amongst triads and happen all over the world for a number of reasons which are never usually discovered.

7. They are even more powerful today

Image source/ wikiTheir power has certainly to decline - if anything the triads have more power than ever because they now have territory all over the world. Sun Yee On is the largest triad with 25,000 members. It is active in China, Hong Kong and particularly England and America.

8. The worst kinds of crimes imaginable...

Image source/ The New York TimesThe crimes of the triads include every crime you could almost think of whether it be drug trafficking, sex trafficking, contract killing, extortion... Their criminal activity is rife, and it usually works at a higher level. For example, a lot of the activity is done through corruption.

9. Heroin smuggling in the triads

Image source/ VICEThere are two triads which are more powerful than any others in the Heroin drug trade. These are named the 14K and Tai Huen Chai triad. They smuggled heroin from factories in China all the way to North America as well as to Europe. Here the produce would be made into different kinds of drugs - depending on the country the drug market changes in terms of what is most used.

10. Making money from counterfeit goods

Image source/ PinterestThe Triads started to produce counterfeit goods in the 1880s. Not only would they replicate expensive goods, technology, designer gear and books but they also produce counterfeit money. Of course, with their growing money means that they have growing power.

11. Healthcare fraud is frequent

Image source/ HealthlineHealthcare fraud happens very frequently within the triads, and it is a fairly modern phenomenon. In 2012 there were four members of a triad arrested in Japan for healthcare fraud. Healthcare fraud involves defrauding a health care programme or an insurer.

12. Operation China Truck

Image source/ TimeIn 2018 there was Operation China Truck - which involved a huge, organised crime triad. 33 people were arrested in Italy during 2018. The triad had been operating in several part of Italy including Rome, Tuscany, Milan...and also in parts of Germany, Spain and France.

13. Arrests were made recently in Italy

Image source/ South Chine Morning PostThe triad was found to be operating drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution amongst several other serious illegal activities. A lot of illegal goods were then seized - goods which were worth a LOT of money. Which provided extra evidence that these were members of the triad.

14. Infiltrating society through violence

Image source/ South Chine Morning PostTriads infiltrate parts of society that will make it easier for them to commit their crimes. For example, the transport sector had been infiltrated by triads, meaning that the triad had intimidated and used violence against many different companies which they could then use to facilitate their illegal activities - such as carrying drugs.

15. The Triads and the Camorra

Image source/ yahooTriads operate alone. Apart from one exception, they sometimes work with the Camorra. The Camorra is an organisation born in Italy - specifically the Camoren area. The organisation is similar to the Mafia, but the organisation is slightly different with an individual leader named a 'capo' to lead their individual 'clan'.

16. Separate from the Mafia

Image source/WikipediaThe Triads, and the Camorra work as separate independent organised crime groups to the Mafia which first emerged in Sicily and then progressed all over the world. But The Triads and Camorra do work together to organise human trafficking for sex and slave about, drug smuggling and money laundering on a very large scale.

17. Globalising organised crime

Image source/WikipediaDespite the fact that they work very much alone in top secret fashion - huge organisations of illegal organised crime get acquainted with one another as they have to establish 'territory grounds' which can become a problem when each organisation wants to globalise.

18. Creating allies to keep safe

Image source/TNYTWhich leads to the creation of allies. This does not mean the two have any business with one another, but different groups form allies meaning that each respects the boundaries of one another's. For the triad Sun Yee On, their allies include the Albanian, Serbian and Italian mafia, the Sinaloa Cartel and the triads Wo Hop To and Wo On Lok.

19. Enemies are ruthless towards one another

Image source/RapplerThen of course in the world of criminal secret operations there are always enemies. The Sun Yee On have known enemies which include one of the largest triads and their biggest enemy - the 14K triad. Also, Wah Ching and Wo Shing Wo. Things are very turbulent and bloody between these triads.

20. 14K triad is the BIGGEST enemy

Image source/wxii2214K are not only the biggest enemy of Sun Yee On but they are also the second largest in the world with 20,000 members. The triad was established in 1945 and their crimes include trafficking including humans, drugs and arms as well as arson, fraud, murder, kidnapping and much more.

21. They work all over the globe

Image source/ABOTriads operate in secret all around us - they have infiltrated all over the globe. They now have outposts in a variety of countries - having expanded in the majority of continents all over. In the past the scale was more limited however with globalisation they rapidly expanded.

22. Political corruption is HUGE

Image source/WGRZIn ancient China there were initially three ancient triads. Because they were first formed for the reason of overthrowing the Qing dynasty, they were formed as a part of a political, patriotic movement. Now, it is less so as their purpose is much broader - power and money. However, the political links remain as corruption is a huge part of the triads.

23. Triad leader Hui Sin Ma - Frank Ma

Image source/WikipediaHui Sin Ma is better known as Frank Ma - he is one of the leaders of the triad 14K. He illegally immigrated from China to the US to carry out more of the triad's criminal activities. He was responsible for heroin dealing, the theft of luxury cars, illegal gambling - all of which he oversaw on a large scale. He also ordered numerous murders. Eventually he was caught and sentenced to life in prison.

24. Kidnapping gone wrong in 2018

Image source/RapplerIn 2018 in New Zealand the 14K were planning a kidnap of a Chinese family who were extremely wealthy and powerful and held an important status. Once they had captured the family the ransom was demanded. However, they thankfully were caught in time before the money had been paid.

25. Nobody dares to tell...

Image source/New York TimesBecause of the murderous nature of these groups -spilling information is not a common occurrence. Or, if it does happen then before long the whole thing will be covered up due to the fact that they have subgroups all over the world. This is why it is one of the most secret illegal groups the world has known.

26. Women are subordinate in the triads

Image source/KYXTThese triads are hugely male dominated. As an example, in the 14K triad women have a very small part to play in comparison to the men and they make up a minority of the organisation's population. It is hugely dominated by men in a very patriarchal system.

27. One of the largest meth trafficking operations EVER

Image source/12news14K is one of the largest operations that are responsible for the majority of meth trafficking which happens in Australia. This also happens in many other countries such as Mexico - where they supply the raw materials that are used for the production of meth.

28. They make millions from Abalone exportation

Image source/Rappler14K has many of its Chinese operation in South Africa. One of their main sources of income it's from the illegal exportation of Abalone. In 2000 the exportation of Abalone from South Africa to Hong Kong made them as an estimate around 32 million dollars.

29. Where the triads began...

Image source/YahooThe Triads first began in China. They are a very large and organised crime group. Despite the fact that it originated in China it is now all over the world. However, the main elements of the triad still remain here. It started as a branch of what was known as the Secret Hung society.

30. Overthrowing the Qing dynasty

Image source/WikipediaThe secret Hung society which the triad was born from, was formed because its secret intention was to overthrow the Qing Dynasty in China at the time. And so, the original plans of the triad have changed and expanded into huge money-making illegal businesses.