Inside The Chinese Mafia: Triad Member Explains How Chinese Organized Crime Works | The Connect

As a young immigrant child in New York City's Chinatown, Jimmy "Bighead" Tsui quickly became immersed in the gang world of the Lower East Side. He quickly rose the ranks and soon became an associate of the Chinese Mafia in Hong Kong moving drugs in and out of the country. He joins the show to breakdown exactly how Chinese gangs operated in the US and Hong Kong before he left the life of crime, became a volunteer police officer, and started being a positive influence on the youth in the neighborhood that raised him.
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0:00 TOUR DATES!
0:47 Intro
2:57 The History Of Chinese Immigration And Chinatown
5:53 Growing Up In Chinatown In The 1970s
12:46 How The Gangs Cleared Out The Neighborhood
13:36 The First Gangs In Chinatown
17:27 Association Clubs, Gambling Houses, And Extortion
24:46 Getting Introduced To The Tung On Gang
33:11 Gangs And Chinese Investors Buying Property
36:57 Experiencing Gang Violence For The First Time
41:12 HelloFresh Sponsor Ad
42:32 BetterHelp Sponsor Ad
43:48 Officially Becoming A Member Of The Gang
47:59 The Tung On/Ghost Shadows War In Chinatown
54:22 How Jimmy’s Gang Made Money: Extortion And Massage Parlors
1:04:08 Moving Drugs In And Out Of Hong Kong
1:10:48 How The H*roin Business Worked In NYC
1:13:51 Visiting Drug Markets In Thailand
1:16:11 Leaving The Gang, Federal Crackdowns, And Reflecting On The Life
1:23:04 How It All Ended And Life After Crime
1:27:37 Explaining How Chinatown Has Changed
1:31:44 Wrapping Up

[@theconnectpod]

Big up to Jimmy "Bighead" Tsui- an NYC underworld legend. And thank you all for watching. Please like and comment xoxo HelloFresh: www.hellofresh.com/50connect Promo Code: 50CONNECT See Me On Tour! www.johnnymitchell.biz/shows 10/12- TOLEDO, OH 10/15- CLEVELAND, OH 11/1- BRIDGEPORT, CT 11/2- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 11/5- NEW YORK, NY 11/15- DALLAS, TX 11/16- AUSTIN, TX 12/14- SAN DIEGO, CA 12/21- CHICAGO, ILL

[@BuckNasty88MD]

Both your hairlines are fudged up😅😅😅😅

[@philp7648]

Honestly out of all the crazy stuff he said on this pod i have to say that his parents still only paying $240 a month on rent has gotta be the craziest thing he said😂😂

[@TheLordwook]

You keep on interrupting the guy. stopping him in his tracks as he's saying something interesting. all the way through it. Anyone can do a podcast, not everyone can be an interviewer.

[@joesmo9315]

I say this shit everytime he gets annoying

[@Torontozeen]

I keep seeing these comments and watch the whole thing and this isn’t happening

[@dangoldstein7416]

That is funny

[@kalebdye4378]

His massive ego jumping in... Dude runs purely on ego. He really thinks he's hot shit.

[@thomaskohut1604]

It's not like this guy is a national newspaper or has a degree in journalism communications. He's a guy who got out of prison interviewing other people in my interview. It's just really a conversation. don't be so uptight About someone else's content,

[@marknales9716]

Johnny, I can tell you’ve responded well to constructive criticism and started listening more and letting your guests finish their thoughts. Atta boy! Enjoyed it.

[@ChristophTozer]

Yes! The best advice for interviewing, anybody, is to let the guest talk.

[@johnjohnson9135]

He cant.....that's what got him in prison in first place....u either have it or you dont, and he doesnt!@@ChristophTozer

[@OfficialOddiologist]

@@johnjohnson9135 lmao dude has over a million subscribers. "You either have it or you don't" What do you have? ahaha

[@rman52]

And Taylor Swift has a zillion fans and she sucks. Interrupting guests is terrible. It was so bad, i couldn't listen@@OfficialOddiologist

[@jamesd9709]

Jimmy has the best story. Great interview!

[@biglance]

I knew kids like him from Hong Kong that immigrated, not easy at all! They often stuck to themselves and their families did not want them to mingle much with Americans. They worked HARD and saved, if most Americans had their FAMILY support and WORK ethic, we would be unstoppable as a nation. peace.

[@ItsLotto]

Facts

[@DuncanPinderhughe]

and i knew a Asians like him that sold meth and hand gun switches in Cali. bad people in every culture. also, u have plenty of Amerians that have famileis and work hard. Whats preventing Americans from being "unstoppable" , esp on the grass roots, really doesnt have sh*t to do with what u stated lol

[@kiffermachon]

Holy hell that was a hilarious and horrible ad timing.. "oh they killed a 13 year old" "HELLO FRESH IS WHERE YOU GET YOUR GREENS"

[@bigboicreme]

😂😅😢 🫒🥙

[@floridaboybrandon954]

💀 🥗

[@Therealmudbone]

They couldn’t have been happy with that. They usually want you to at least try to Segway

[@aseaton0604]

Time stamp link?

[@eastsidetony8809]

Algorithm is great for that

[@maoriboy92]

Well done, Johnny! You are just crushing it with the interviews Man! Inspiring stuff!

[@idealcommentary]

Awesome episode, great historic detail 🤝

[@eddieohh6627]

This is my favorite connect interview so far 🔥 interesting guy

[@obamacare1171]

Very captivating episode!

[@davidAIserrano]

This interview and the one before this one in order from oldest to newest were fire 🔥

[@alexflys5163]

Love the vids Johnny

[@qadriharris]

great interview

[@user-db3ek7lv2e]

One of the best interviews bc of the story a new insight into Asian gangs amazing loved it!!! Keep it up brotha!!!!

[@KLEFF718]

It's fascinating to me how so many people are interested in the culture of NYC Chinese gangs. I grew up in Chinatown in the 80s/90s and it was just kind of part of life around here. I never knew this was of interest to anyone outside of Chinatown!

[@robnewey3918]

I lived in New York from 79’ -89, I worked downtown on lower broadway canal jeans ! We would go down to Canal st for food or just to look around , we would see some of the gangs hanging around ! There was a girl who worked at the CJ who was Vietnamese who was dating a Chinese guy he would come with his crew to see her , they liked to hear my Brit accent ! That was good times in the 80’s we would walk back to work up through little Italy I was in Hong king at Xmas very similar to NY but not as moody

[@mrgene8385]

Hope all is well with your Heatlh big dog keep pushing 💪🏿

[@CRUCIALTRENDS]

Good Interview

[@yikes140]

Your podcasts are getting better and better .... The conversation needs to flow better ...

[@realeyez_KT]

November 2nd might have to check u out, big fan

[@killaant84]

Been watching ur show since u first started bro,luv it keep it going bro!!!

[@azraelairsoft]

for clarification Triads are the equivelent to the term Mafia or Yakuza. Its a term that encompasses organized crime in chinese communities around east and south east asia etc. Sun Yee On is still one of the biggest triad groups in all of asia. The boss in burma/south east asia that is talked about is Khun Sa. He's not directly a member of a triad group as far as anyone knows but has ties to the KMT and is loosely tied to the taiwanese triads and government officials. But most researchers will say he dealt with many groups. He was also the guy that frank lucas got his stuff from.

[@thatindiandude4602]

And now the Chinese triads operate Meth super labs in Burma. Comes full ci😊rcle

[@yooyo8303]

That’s who I think the name he couldn’t remember was frank luxas

[@jackfischer4649]

Love how respectful Johnny is working around the speech barrier

[@tayh3168]

I'm sure Bighead has been speaking English longer than Johnny has

[@SmokeTemple]

What speech barrier, both are speaking english... Bighead has a bit of an accent is all (or you could even say Hong Kong dialect since its an old UK colony and part of the UK until 1997)... Americans are weird about ppl who dont speak english the same way they do... "how respectful", wow how humble of the big yank to not not belittle someone for having a dialect!

[@kevinC_]

The Segway into the add is wildly funny!

[@BillyThePlumber7]

This is my new favorite pod cost and even better then any tv show

[@Lifechangin33]

Better than *

[@aleiterful]

Lol idk how you find these guys but this channel deserves every dollar you make

[@JJHemingway421]

Think hard.

[@aleiterful]

@@JJHemingway421 not allowed to

[@thatindiandude4602]

A lot of them end up doing the podcast circuit to shill whatever they have to.

[@user-bs6pv2wh6y]

Sick video Johnny. I saw a video about how the Triads used to run San Fran, their wild with it

[@user-bs6pv2wh6y]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoG3oHhmfrWpe9E

[@MrGimmix81]

Bro you are a phenomenal interviewer! I wasn’t really into to it at the beginning, but I quickly got hooked by his story and I feel for the dude!

[@joethao2161]

Bro, you need to ask for an interview with this badass Chinese dude name Grasshopper!!! Trust me, you’ll never regret it brother…

[@nettyballball497]

Chinatown gang stories..got my sub about to watch all them hoez too!! 😆😆...✊🏾☮"

[@darylmixan8170]

Imagine this interview if Johnny let him talk

[@JJHemingway421]

Or did any sort of research himself on the people coming on his booster to the moon show by YT.

[@affordablerealestate8169]

@@JJHemingway421 What do you mean when you say "his booster to the moon show by YT", that youtube is boosting his shows to incentivize crime?

[@winstonl7814]

These chinese gang stories always seem to amaze me because I've read a book about Chinese playground which happened in sf back in 70''s

[@MrInsurance8]

80s-90s chinatown in new york was prime time

[@nooch5lover]

That was tremendous

[@Ifyoudontknownowuknow]

Johnny Wants to check out that supermarket soooooo bad 😅 (me too)

[@Qays1989]

CD cc C

[@chrisbrent7487]

The part of mainland China that speaks Cantonese is one of the wealthiest regions. No one is marginalised there for it. Otherwise, its spoken in Hong Kong. The official language is Mandarin though. All students are taught it in school. Eventually it will probably die out in mainland China though. Taiwan is all Mandarin though. There are quite a few different dialects though. If you can read Chinese though you can read in any of them even if you don't speak a particular dialect completely fluently.

[@Boss429..]

1:14:48 Johnny, “In front of the GAY???”. Come on dude! LMAO! 😆 😂 🤣

[@The_Bass_Stunters]

Christ Mitchell!! You almost got a milly subs bro!! Congratulations dude knew this channel was going to absolutely blow up back when I hopped on when you only had 15K. 🎉🎉

[@gone.golfing]

Definitely bought a lot of subs.

[@The_Bass_Stunters]

You think?? 🤔 man his content is pretty solid it’s possible he got the majority of them legit. I know Brandon Schaub ass bought the majority of his. His content on all channels blow.

[@gone.golfing]

@@The_Bass_Stunters I’m not saying his content isn’t good bc it is but it grew a little too fast for it to be true.

[@masonparis7472]

Not really - for a while there he just hit a good run with his shorts over that like 20 part series or whatever and it blew up then, then it slowed down a bit. Didn’t happen that fast though, others have definitely done it faster

[@Sabahzai]

1:07.00 Johnny : Oh wow you did that? Big head : yeah (picking up the drink with the richard mile on his wrist.)😅😂

[@lexbraxman9270]

So interesting to listen to. Ghost Shadows were notorious in NYC. The gang of gangs in all of NYC

[@johnsnow7873]

Johnny I once gave you advice to stop the music while zooming into your guests face and you immediately stopped this so I can see you take advice from your viewers which is great. This was a great interview but please be careful about criticising vulnerable people, I cringed when you were degredating massage workers as that are his national sisters. Also at some times I get a vibe that you are interrogating for the FBI, the way you ask questions needs to be more casual and not so direct. Great interview as always and I am a huge fan of your gangster episodes.

[@daveyboy8907]

Undercover

[@DH702..]

Bro u back as hell for this the shoe fits 8/10

[@OscarPerez-rm4hl]

Bad ass interview , I swear I love working graveyard and listening to your Podcasts while doing security at LAX AIRPORT 😎

[@DMWBN3]

He’ll let you through with extra packages @ LAX.

[@DMWBN3]

He’ll let you through with extra packages @ LAX.

[@robertchase5699]

I wish Jimmy would reach across the table and teach this kid some manners!

[@PawgSlayer]

Guest is a real 1

[@robertjaime6808]

This was a great interview, it really opened up my eyes on Chinese O.C. Never have I heard it explained by a Chinese mobster who lived it & seen it all changed in front of his own eyes. 👏👏👏👏

[@NVSTRZ34]

Great episode. Great guest.

[@BrandonCockridge18]

Very cool

[@timothydonahue7301]

Nice Doo

[@qwertykeyboardwarrior]

The problem with therapy is I don't take advice from people I don't want to be like. And I've never seen a therapist that I wanted to be like

[@williamsheets5987]

Jimmy "BIG HEAD" = LEGENDARY 💯💰💵💸

[@CS-fj3vx]

“Fire dragon” 😂

[@rickysomething3786]

I like the subtitles...😅🤣😂...tongue gone street gang...😄😁😆

[@eyezikandexploits]

Please release some of the old patron clips from the airplane come trafficker

[@jonyscrewzo]

Cool 🤙💯

[@T4SelNiNO]

"I thought Chinese people didn't like ghosts" I mean cmon is there any race that likes ghosts WTF 😂

[@TruthSeekr2662]

Great Content, Johnny!!

[@Balonishell]

Let's BIG tuk tuk! Mushu #1

[@takerisks8370]

26:57 yea Johnny, slow down. Let the man tell his story 😂😂😂

[@RockNRollJeezus]

He looks like a badass Bobby Lee lol

[@Skdjeis]

Great interview 👍 This guest is the real deal

[@Whensmahvel1]

Big head richard mille is INSANE

[@xxthesarcasm]

This podcast should be called The Interrupter lol. I do like this podcast allt but damn! let people tell their stories!

[@KiarenGrae]

The Chinatown channel link in your description is broken.

[@MrBosst09]

One of the gang's name is Flying Dragon. Not "Fire" Dragon or "Five" Dragon.

[@kuangtien3980]

Frying Dlygon.....L's are R.....R's are L....😊

[@WestSideGorilla1980]

Johnny will be on rogan one day. I hope he does a fat rail before the show to not let joe get a word in.

[@user-jw8th7ke9x]

Johnny losing his hair so quick since he started this KZbin 🤣🤣🤣

[@onlyhereforddebob8978]

The tongs started a trend with young teams in Glasgow adopting the name. Carlton tongs etch

[@user-we3ew1rs2s]

The host is Sooo adamant about not having loose lips. Not being a snitch. But asking his guest to snitch. And to have loose lips for likes and Subscriptions maybe more Patreon members? You have to listen to your guests some times they already said it or because a language barrier you will make fun of them. That’s a maturity issue. But I like your show but to ask people to give you details on a drug transaction or murder case or anything along those lines. At a minimum and it’s your business but you should pay these guests on certain pay scale if you’re not already.

[@ScottDonnelly-tk7xv]

His nickname is the most apt ive heard

[@BrandonCockridge18]

I have no idea what Juntao said but I watched the entire episode. Great work Johnny

[@Daniel-rr8mq]

This is gold

[@jasonrogers8754]

Just hearing him say "do happy ending" because not only was that funny but I also got a happy ending from my girlfriend. Still cost me $20 though. I mean what do you want me to do? We had to eat🤷

[@Tomose]

This guy literally needs a movie. or a tv series.

[@moneybags-yj7dk]

ten out of ten video im in vancouver n the triads run shit and this explains what they do same thing happen here in chinatown shootins etc... rail roads history explains why theres Chinese Gangsters> ive been watching since ive been out on bail till sentence and u been making the best videos by far for History etc... been watching since 2022 December or earlier, I'm so happy n impressed how far have u come doing sponsors n etch imma sign up for Hello fresh since i already buy bunch of steaks n etc since house arrest eating is a very nice thang and to support your hustle fr. would love to see a Video on REDD ALERT 604 in Vancouver theres a gangster retired in america.

[@Therealmudbone]

Vancouver Canada or California

[@jordanhess2061]

Man, if you could still get RAW china white for cheap like back in the day, I might still be a junkie. Fent killed the game.

[@masonparis7472]

Chine white is the code word slang now for selling fent on the black markets

[@jordanhess2061]

@@masonparis7472 Crazy, Most of the street interviews you see people saying they are heroin addicts, I bet most of em never even have had real H. It would be healthier for them if it was still around rather than the fentanyl and horse tranquilizer bullshit.

[@frankbasile3662]

Host has to do a bit of research on Chinese gangs in NY and the west coast as well as the different Chinese groups.Very rich history on both coasts of the US ,The Ghost Shadows were definitely one of the largest and most fearsome in Chinatown along with the infamous BTK...

[@evanpetelle5669]

Cool dude

[@YEEEEETSKIII]

Bighead balling, wearin a RM :)

[@dasqueege7903]

Awesome segment 🫡💯💯💯💯👊👊👊

[@seNor916x4]

Bighead: “Hmmmm, mmmmm” Edit: The host is having an awkward time trying to conduct this interview, asking random questions with crappy jokes that Bighead doesn’t even understand or find funny.

[@patmanley9215]

“So what was your fat friend doing to make these rivals want to kill him?” 😂

[@SooHooSamaSito]

Hop Sing Tong is in S.F. Plenty of tongs in Cali. Plenty of mainlanders there as well.

[@STRAYD0G187]

ChinaTown in San Francisco had Chinese gangsters too. Shrimp Boy was a big player back on the day.

[@good_to_be_gold8]

Big head, real one. Great interview

[@moneybaghustlers]

First you talk about a kid getting k1lled and then an effortless transition to meal plan-smoooth😂😂

[@BrandonCockridge18]

nice

[@realhigh4319]

The watch, you know Jimmy is still ballin.

[@ttytty6940]

he got money outside US

[@aceloco817]

It's the hair mayn!! 😅

[@tattoodaartist8754]

He just wanted to tell his story . Even asked you to slow down and you keep jumping from random topic after random topic . You have to learn to understand time lines and events . He telling you about when he was 13 why are you bringing uo happy ending houses .. relax he gone get there

[@anielrivera7977]

I lived in flushing and saw the big change there

[@WatchReporter]

The best gambling house in chinatown I used to go to had russian roulette. Just like in the Deer Hunter. It was on Mott street.

[@PawgSlayer]

When a guest tells good stories let them go johnny. You domt need 2 navigate the convo

[@teovu5557]

using a random photo from a completely unrelated chinese gang from California(wah Ching) when mentioning ghost shadows lol

[@rasputin5746]

Awesome interview and you have some really interesting people on your podcasts. Although, you really need to stop interrupting people. It's frustrating to listen to , the guest is trying to say something interesting and them you just go off on a completely different subject and start rambling on.

[@xalchemy3962]

Man at the end haha 240 dollars of rent for a studio in ny good for them haha

[@Thorkildzen]

Did dude get rid of the live chat or did he just Banned Me from live chat?

[@SavageAudits]

I don’t know, but I see your comment, here.

[@yip2454]

OG bighead!

[@alexsokolov5407]

Regarding your question “did the gangs buy property with drug money? Because if they bought and held onto them, they would’ve been billionaire.” That’s not how that works lol that’s textbook money laundering, so whenever the big guys went down, those properties would be seized as they are proceeds of money laundering. In fact, the feds would’ve been more interested in cracking down on the gangs if they even sniffed that billions of dollars worth of real estate were at stake

[@JasonLaveKnotts]

What do you think private security contractors are? You pay a security agency a fee to protect your business. The difference is if there is a threat of violence to coerce you.

[@antoinesilva1527]

Sometimes, it actually might be those contractors that hired “guys” to drop by those businesses first. Probably a decent thing now.

[@stevewesterkamp9889]

Come to Cincinnati