Organized Crime in North America

Despite stories of organized criminal "types" becoming more and more involved in Internet crime, organized crime (itself) is a phenomenon that's been around for a long time.

The Internet is merely another "avenue" for "organized criminals" to commit their misdeeds.

I happened to read an interesting article by Joan Delaney of the Epoch Times in Canada about the Triads (Chinese Mafia), which have been operating in North America since we imported a lot of Chinese nationals in the 1850s to work the gold fields and build the railroads.

The article states:

A 2004 Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) report stated that Asian organized crime presents a major threat in Canada because of its many widespread and well-run criminal operations. CISC said Asian-based street gang violence is on the rise in several cities, and that the street gangs have connections with more sophisticated Asian organized crime groups—in other words, the Triads.

At a local level, Asian gangs are involved in a long list of criminal activities: credit card fraud, luxury car theft, prostitution, home invasions, staged vehicle accidents, contract killings, assaults, welfare and employment insurance fraud, drug trafficking, software piracy, loan-sharking, and illegal gaming. While scattered from coast to coast, Asian gangs are most active in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, the CISC report said.

Epoch story, here.

Interestingly enough the article also cites the Triads as being tied to the Vietnamese gangs and even the Hells Angels.

Note that these "outfits," probably expanded their activities to Canada from the United States.

Going to the CISC report, which I found published on the Internet, I found a lot of interesting information about organized criminal activity in North America and even a pretty good "analysis" of potential ties to terrorist groups.

CISC report, here.

Note that the report references a lot more that Asian crime and is a pretty interesting "read" for anyone interested in the subject.