Threat of Asian gangs growing

Keith Paul

Tuesday, April 3, 2001 | 10:29 a.m.

Asian organized crime may not have reached the level the Italian mob once had in Las Vegas, but there have been two recent busts that prove this area is not immune to a growing international problem.

More than 1,000 law enforcement officials are in town this week sharing information and attending classes to thwart efforts of the expanding influence of Asian gangs.

Metro Police is hosting the 23rd International Asian Organized Crime Conference in the Flamingo Hilton, with officials from about 20 countries gathered.

"We no longer consider Asian organized crime as an emerging threat," said Ruben Garcia, FBI assistant director for criminal investigations. "They are a serious crime problem that pose a serious threat to all the countries represented here."

While Asian gangs haven't taken over in Las Vegas, the FBI and Metro have made two series of arrests recently involving Asian organized crime. In September five people in Las Vegas were arrested in a nationwide prostitution smuggling operation dubbed "Operations Jade Blade." The two-year investigation culminated with warrants executed in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and Minneapolis.

Then in November, 17 people -- including two in Las Vegas -- were arrested in an international cheating ring that is alleged to have bilked casinos in Las Vegas and elsewhere out of more than $2 million.

"It's a problem that has an increasing presence here in Las Vegas Valley and in other countries," Sheriff Jerry Keller said. "With local, federal and state agencies represented here along with representatives from 20 countries, we can form closer bonds and share information."

Local, state and federal agencies from across this country will host classes talking about various aspects of Asian gangs and ways to combat the gangs. A few police agencies from other countries will also host classes, including the National Police Agency of Japan on Japanese organized crime and the Yakuza.

Asian organized crime has touched on all continents and cannot be policed by one agency or one country, said Ramachandra Sundaralingam of Interpol, an international police organization.

"Police have always been reluctant to share information, but Asian criminal efforts are not just in the United States or in Asia or in Europe. It is everywhere," Sundaralingam said.

The Asian gangs often prey on Asian business owners. Metro Sgt. Gayland Hammack said in "Operations Jade Blade" in Las Vegas, the prostitution businesses were paying protection money to Asian organized crime.

But legitimate business owners are also being targeted, said Hammack of Metro's criminal intelligence unit, who headed the organization of this year's conference.

The International Asian Organized Crime Conference started in 1978 in Boston, when 50 detectives got together to talk about an emerging problem of Asian gangs, Garcia said.

"Asian (organized crime) has rapidly developed in the United States," he said.