Secretive rule of one of world’s most feared ‘Triad’ gangs and how UK city’s Chinatown became home of bloody turf war
ONE of the world’s most feared and secretive Triad gangs was involved in a bloody turf war in a British city’s Chinatown.
A fall out between the Wo Shing Wo and rival 14k resulted in a violent street brawl in Manchester’s Chinatown.
The Wo Shing Wo is said to have run the city’s Chinatown for years, where they force young recruits to pay over cash to join their ranks.
The impenetrable crime cartel is said to rule the streets with an iron fist, taxing businesses and punishing those that cross them.
The 30 man brawl on George Street lasted around 50 seconds but left two men in hospital with stab wounds.
Manchester Crown Court heard how the trouble began in the K2 karaoke bar on a summer’s night in June 2010.
A man said to have been the leader of the Wo Shing Wo is said to have shouted: ” I’ve run the streets of Manchester for over 10 years – who do you think you are?”
Around 30 men, said to be linked to the rival triad factions, then went out into the street for a fight when knives and other weapons were used.
Most of the men fought with their fists and feet, and one was hit by a passing 4X4.
Opening the case Rick Holland, prosecuting, said: “Chinatown is rightly regarded as a flourishing asset to this city – however some little time ago it was the venue for a pitched battle between two groups of men who engaged in a short-lived but ferocious episode of violence that left six seriously injured.”
Four men from Greater Manchester, who fought on the Wo Shing Wo side, were later jailed. They denied being triads.
The court heard that a restaurant workers from Merseyside was being bullied by members of the Wo Shing Wo, which led to the confrontation.
The Merseyside man was later jailed for violent disorder and possessing a bladed article.
Sentencing the men, Judge Andrew Blake said: “Quite what it was all about perhaps only those involved truly know.
“It may have been an old-fashioned turf war; it may” have been a generational thing; or it may have been an eruption of anger by the old guard against those who proved insusceptible to attempts to recruit them.”
The brawl earlier this year was the latest in a string of incidents said to be linked to Manchester’s Triad gangs.
In September this year police in Hong Kong arrested 6,400 people and seized hundreds of millions of dollars in a wave of raids targeting triad crime gangs.
Operation Thunderbolt smashed gambling dens, vice establishments, unlicensed bars, and loan-sharks companies.
Hong Kong Police also seized weapons and drugs worth over $350 million, including cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.
During the 2020 Euros police forces across Europe targeted so called triad style gangs said to be involved in crime and corrupt sports betting.
Interpol said: “While most of us were watching the UEFA European Football Championship as simple fans, hundreds of specialized officers across 28 countries were targeting organized crime groups looking to earn millions from illegal gambling and related money laundering activities.
“INTERPOL’s Operation SOGA VIII (short for soccer gambling) led to thousands of raids and the arrest of some 1,400 suspects across Asia and Europe. Authorities seized USD 7.9 million in cash, as well as computers and mobile phones connected to nearly USD 465 million in bets
“Hong Kong Police detained more than 800 suspects, including the alleged kingpin of a triad-controlled bookmaking syndicate, seizing nearly USD 2.7 million in cash and records detailing hundreds of millions in bets, making it one of their most successful operations against illegal gambling ever.”
In 2013 police launched an appeal after a suspected Triad gang member went missing after making a desperate 999 call asking for help.
Speaking at the time Supt Alex Millett from the Serious Organised Crime Group said: “[The missing man] is part of a well-known Triad group and we are aware that he has been involved in criminality in the area. However, this does not change the fact that he has disappeared and we are concerned for his welfare.”
In 2004 a young man died after he was beaten up by Triad gang members in the Chinatown area. Police believed he had travelled to the area for a pre-arranged fight, only to be ambushed.
The incident led to police raids , when officers discovered a haul of DVDs.
In 1996 four triad members were jailed after Eddie Hui, 28, was gunned down while working in his uncle’s chip shop in Glossop.
Jack Dees, a former GMP Detective Superintendent, carried out a survey which revealed disturbing details about the role of triads in the Manchester area.
He found that Chinese organised crime was “durable, flexible, well resourced and well established… and a major threat to the UK economy and human rights.”