The "Chinese Maria" has earned a reputation as one most brutal in the seedy underworld ofst notorious, perhaps, for its control of the lucrative Southeast Asian drug trade. But how much of this is Hollywood hype and how much is reality?
Here author Peter Huston explores the rich Chinese tradition of tongs, triads and secret societies and their frequent involvement in organized crime, as well as their growing collusion with Chinatown street gangs. He also examines how Chinese culture and the plight of Chinatown society obstruct efforts to fight these crime groups and even serve to fuel their growth.
