Snakehead (gang)

Snakehead (gang)

Infobox Criminal organization

name = Snakeheads
founded on =
founding location = Fujian province, China
founded by =
years active = 1990s-present
territory = Chinese communities all round the world
ethnic makeup = Chinese, mostly from Fujian
membership est = Unknown
criminal activities = People smuggling, murder
allies = Local Asian street gangs
rivals = Triads

Snakeheads (zh-cp|c=蛇頭|p=shé tóu) are Chinese gangs that smuggle people to other countries. They are found in the Fujian region of China and smuggle their customers into wealthier Western countries in Western Europe, North America or Australasia. The rate of payment for successful smuggling can be as high as US$50,000. Snakeheads use various methods to get their customers to the West. They may employ the use of stolen or altered passports, improperly obtained visas, and bribes to move people from nation to nation until they arrive at their final destination.

One notable Snakehead member is Cheng Chui Ping or "Sister Ping". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4816354.stm] .

Etymology

The word "snakehead" has its root in a metaphor used in the Chinese language. The people being smuggled are often referred to as "man-snakes" (zh-cp|c=人蛇|p=rén shé). The smugglers, as the leaders, or "heads", are thus seen to be this snake's head. The English word "snakehead" is a direct calque of the Chinese expression.

In popular culture

*The leader of a Snakehead gang is an antagonist in the Alex Rider novel "Snakehead" by Anthony Horowitz
*In a mission in the video game the player is on a ship carrying illegal Vietnamese immigrants, where the gangster running the operation is referred to as 'the Snakehead'.
*In the Laughing Magician story arc of Hellblazer, John Constantine enlists the aid of a snakehead gang boss.

References

*Thompson, Tony. "Gangs: A Journey into the heart of the British Underworld", 2004 ISBN 0-340-83053-0
*citation
title=The Snakehead: The criminal odyssey of Chinatown’s Sister Ping
url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/04/24/060424fa_fact6
last=Keefe
first=Patrick Radden
journal=The New Yorker

External links

* [http://www.havocscope.com/trafficking/chinahumansmuggling.htm Havocscope breakdown of fees paid per person to be smuggled into the United States from China during the 1960s till present.]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Snakehead — can refer to:* Snakehead (gang), a type of Chinese gang which is involved in human smuggling * Channidae, a family of fish known as snakehead * Snakehead (rail), an old type of wooden railroad track lined on top with iron straps (so called… …   Wikipedia

  • Gang — This article is about groups of individuals who share a common identity. For other uses, see Gang (disambiguation). Street gang redirects here. For the Sesame Street book, see Street Gang (book). Gangs Territory Worldwide Membership 800,000 in… …   Wikipedia

  • snakehead — 1) a member of the family Channidae 2) a member of a Chinese gang involved in smuggling people from China into western countries …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • snakehead — /ˈsneɪkhɛd/ (say snaykhed) noun Asian English the leader of a smuggling gang that trades in human beings …  

  • Eastman Gang — Christopher Wallace shortly after being arrested, along with Monk Eastman, in 1904. In Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York Founded by Monk Eastman Years active …   Wikipedia

  • 19th Street Gang — The 19th Street Gang was a New York predominantly Irish street gang during the 1870s known as a particularly violent anti Protestant gang. The 19th Street Gang, made up mostly of young pickpockets, muggers, and sneak thieves, was led by a young… …   Wikipedia

  • Crazy Butch Gang — Years active 1890s 1900s Territory Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York Criminal activities Pickpocketing, sneak thievery The Crazy Butch Gang was an American juvenile street gang active in the New York City underworld during the late nineteenth… …   Wikipedia

  • Charlton Street Gang — The Charlton Street Gang was a New York street gang and river pirates during the mid nineteenth century. The Charlton Street Gang was one of the earliest river pirates raiding small cargo ships in the North River of New York Harbor during post… …   Wikipedia

  • Cherry Hill Gang — The Cherry Hill Gang was a New York street gang during the late nineteenth century. Formed in the 1890s, the Cherry Hill Gang were known as the dandies of New York s underworld. Often wearing dress suits and armed with metal weighted walking… …   Wikipedia

  • Molasses Gang — The Molasses Gang was a New York street gang during the 1870s. Formed in 1871 by Jimmy Dunnigan, the Molasses Gang were primarily made up of sneak thieves and minor criminals who were highly publicized in the New York press for the comedic… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”