Brutal Gangs: Bamboo Union
Thousands attended the 2007 funeral of reputed Bamboo Union leader Chen Chi-li, emblematic of the extent to which the gang has infiltrated mainstream Taiwanese politics. Image Source: nickyloh.com
“Bamboo Union” sounds like a trade group set up for Whole Foods vendors, but unfortunately for us, they tend to take up arms over issues a bit more violent than decreasing quinoa discounts. Bamboo Union is one of the more fearsome Triad gangs operating in the Pacific Rim today, and might have as many as 10,000 active members in Taiwan alone.
The group operates according to old-fashioned Triad values, such as loyalty, courage–and a willingness to break the knees of people who don’t cough up their money on time.
Perhaps even more frighteningly, however, the group has really dived headlong into the sleaze by entering politics, which might explain why the government of Taiwan is having a hard time prosecuting them.
Beginning as a sort of East Asian Murder Inc., United Bamboo foresaw the decline in the murder-for-hire industry in China and diversified into gambling, prostitution, and drugs. They’ll still totally kill you, though, so they haven’t forgotten their roots.
Next up: You know them, you’ve seen their ilk on TV, but just how dangerous are they…
