Some dozen years ago, New York’s Chinatown, because of rampant gang and criminal activities, was described as the “darkest corner of Hell.” But after a major crackdown by the federal government, often citing the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, key gang figures were arrested.Today, open gang activity is seldom visible; although far from disappearing, gang activity has gone underground. According to law enforcement, new gangs, with no fixed names and comprised mostly of new immigrants, are gathering strength.

The new gangs have learned to be discreet and to not conduct their business openly. On the other hand, Chinatown businesses have also learned that they can get protection from the police without having to come up with gang “protection money.”

New York City law officials agree on one point: “There are still gangs and they still conduct illegal business. The difference is that they do not shoot or kill people on the open streets.”

According to one ex-gang member, the old illegal gambling places have pretty much disappeared, along with the steady income they generated. Without the money to feed “little brothers,” the site of young gang members strolling on the streets is no more. More importantly, without gambling, there is no more conflict of interests, which reduces incidents such as fighting and murder.

One New York City police officer who was in the crackdown initiative said that the new gangs are very loose organizations that know how to “diversify” their business. They are engaged in more sophisticated crimes, such as narcotics trafficking, fake credit cards and identity theft.

One law officer, who did not want to be identified, pointed out that the concept of Asian gangs has changed from the past. Today’s gangs have no apparent structure and usually go without names. They are sometimes identified by their leaders. Authorities now must put in more manpower and technical resources to investigate them. Most of the gangs are still based in Manhattan’s Chinatown and in Flushing, Queens. Members are usually between 18 and 30 years old, and answer to a hierarchy in the gangs.

Even though the new gangs still dip into old business, such as gambling, massage parlors and the sex business, they are also getting into some very profitable enterprises, like long distance bus services, which is centered in New York. Fierce business competition has resulted in many fights and murders.