How Has Thailand Been Able To So Easily Avoid Street Gangs?

[Chunky1]

I am not talking about petty chop shops or boiler room operations or the local bookie. I am talking about the armed to the teeth, blood in/blood out types of gangs which plague The Americas, Europe, Russia, Africa and even Japan has The Yakuza and China/HK has their Triads.

I've only driven past the Klong Toey area, which is supposed to be one of the least palatable areas of Bangkok, but I can't imagine being afraid to walk around there. Just curious why Thailand seems to be one of the few places to avoid all of that.

[gotlost]

Street gangs in Thailand. BIB, Tuk Tuk Mafia, Baht Bus Mafia, Auto Taxi Mafia, Motor Bike Taxi Mafia. Did I miss any. If your asking about the crips and bloods that don't stand a chance.

[mark45y]

Not to be argumentative but isn’t the answer obvious. In Sicily there aren’t two mafias.

Gangs exist on protection money and selling drugs among other things.

I think those two job descriptions are already filled.

[GuestHouse]

Not to be argumentative but isn’t the answer obvious. In Sicily there aren’t two mafias.

Gangs exist on protection money and selling drugs among other things.

I think those two job descriptions are already filled.

Precisely that.

[Heng]

Plenty of organized crime here. Street gangs as well. They typically don't cross over the levels of social hierarchy to mess with you though. Another thing is they typically don't conveniently color code themselves with armbands, headbands, etc.

[wintermute]

The organized crime here also have a degree of legitimacy with normal upper class Thais. The massage parlor king (forgot his name) is an example of this. There are others who run small time gambling rackets, island bars, and other rackets but they are small fry and local guys.

Don't forget that occasionally some politician or hi-so businessman (or woman) gets offed too. Remember that fancy pu yai real estate condo woman who got gunned down ? There are wars here but they just don't involve total decimation but the occasional hit here and there.

[wintermute]

Plenty of organized crime here. Street gangs as well. They typically don't cross over the levels of social hierarchy to mess with you though. Another thing is they typically don't conveniently color code themselves with armbands, headbands, etc.

The motorscooter gangs are an example of small time punks who do form up into the occasional gang to shoot rivals. They just don't build an empire out of it like U.S. gangs tend to do.

[StreetCowboy]

I wouldn't describe the Yukuza, the mafia or the triads as street gangs.

The triads are a respectable brotherhood established to protect the common man from the ravages of corrupt government officials, and their patron diety, Lord Gwan, stands for justice and honour. He's also the patron diety of the police.

I imagine someone familiar with street gangs could get themselves a chopping in any quarter of Bangkok within half an hour - just like in Malaysia. I don't see why you would want to go looking for trouble, though.

People used to tell me that they felt very safe in HK. I didn't, Apart from all the drunken foreigners in Wanchai - although a hundred posters are already drafting responses saying -try walking down Nottingham High Street at closing time, and you'r right, Wanchai is still much safer than most British city centres - I also felt at risk walking past the discos in Mongkok. Teenage louts are the same everywhere, they have the same things to prove, they take the same drugs, and they carry the same knives... And I am sure that Thailand is very similar.

SC

[Chunky1]

Just curious, have any motorcycle gangs been indicted on charges of distributing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of narcotics and likewise had hundreds and millions of dollars worth of capital/narcotics seized?

Are you really comparing MS13 to the Taxi Mafia? Seriously?

[Chunky1]

Not to be argumentative but isn’t the answer obvious. In Sicily there aren’t two mafias.

This is totally false. There are several warring street gangs in various countries all over the world. There are multiple Triads, Yakuzas, Italian Mafias, Italian American Mafias, MS13, Bloods, Crips, etc. What planet are you living on? lol at the 2 other users patting you on the back.

[Chunky1]

Plenty of organized crime here. Street gangs as well. They typically don't cross over the levels of social hierarchy to mess with you though. Another thing is they typically don't conveniently color code themselves with armbands, headbands, etc.

The motorscooter gangs are an example of small time punks who do form up into the occasional gang to shoot rivals.

The LA based street gang "Crips" has between 30,000 to 35,000 members. But that was still a really good analogy.

[lennya12threh]

Lots of violence.

One of my customers is a 21 year old little gangster. We went out with a friend who knew him as well who spend some time in jail, and drank some whiskey with him. One time he forgot some bullets in his clothes that he gave us to wash. He's got like 5 vehicles, a couple ladies with a couple rooms and a bunch of 15-18 year olds that work for him. I'm not sure what he does but hes been in jail, carries a gun and knife, and makes money from racing bikes (building them and paying others to drive them), helping out pubs that have some sort of problem in them, like security, charging people to park near discos (if they don't they get a problem with his "workers," and if they parked in front of the disco they would have to pay anyway, it is just full), and I'm sure hes selling drugs as well. He goes out every night it seems to pubs and is probably on some decent income. He said that it isn't uncommon for some group to not want to pay up after losing a racing match, and then there ends up being a big gunfight. He said that there just isn't any news about it because if it was well known the local police would get in shit for not controlling the situation.

All this and he was a fairly polite looking guy, that seemed quite nice to talk to and he wouldn't do some terrible to someone for no reason. He said that some other areas of town are much for ruff for kids and mindless, like the west, but he seemed rather decent and honest. To first sight he looks like a little kid, dark skin, and very small and helpless.

In Thailand they just don't end up going out and creating problems with people they don't know, but in their own world it could be quite dangerous. I as well would feel unsafe walking around the bad neighborhood where I'm from but have never gotten a bad vibe in Thailand. For the most part, if they don't know who you are and you don't make a problem, you won't get into a problem, it seems.

[sonicdragon]

I wouldn't describe the Yukuza, the mafia or the triads as street gangs.

The triads are a respectable brotherhood established to protect the common man from the ravages of corrupt government officials, and their patron diety, Lord Gwan, stands for justice and honour. He's also the patron diety of the police.

I imagine someone familiar with street gangs could get themselves a chopping in any quarter of Bangkok within half an hour - just like in Malaysia. I don't see why you would want to go looking for trouble, though.

People used to tell me that they felt very safe in HK. I didn't, Apart from all the drunken foreigners in Wanchai - although a hundred posters are already drafting responses saying -try walking down Nottingham High Street at closing time, and you'r right, Wanchai is still much safer than most British city centres - I also felt at risk walking past the discos in Mongkok. Teenage louts are the same everywhere, they have the same things to prove, they take the same drugs, and they carry the same knives... And I am sure that Thailand is very similar.

SC

I've lived in HK as an expat with all the trimmings and also as a local (some of the in-laws have been there for several generations). 13 years in total, on and off. I'm a british born part-chinese. I've lived in tip-top accomodation on the south side of HK island, mid levels and Happy Valley to 5th/6th floor walk-ups in Kowloon City and Shamshuipo. I've never felt threatened in HK nor encountered any street violence personally, though obviously I know it happens, but it's not indescriminate for the most part unless you were just very very unlucky. My in-laws business has to deal with triads, but so do most. I would not say they are very respectable, maybe 50+ years ago, but not now. These days they control most of the prostitution, drugs, illegal gambling etc as well as "security". Now, if you're a young asian guy and go looking for trouble you will easily find it. If you haven't seen it, I recommend Made in Hong Kong as a down to earth movie that gives a fairly unsensational account of what it's like for the young and disenfranchised in HK - it may be 10-15 years old now, but I think it's still relevent and certainly more realistic than Infernal Affairs, or a myriad of other big budget triad movies (though Infernal Affairs I & II were very good, and entertaining in their own way).

[wintermute]

Just curious, have any motorcycle gangs been indicted on charges of distributing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of narcotics and likewise had hundreds and millions of dollars worth of capital/narcotics seized?

Are you really comparing MS13 to the Taxi Mafia? Seriously?

No, but the less half-assed of the bunch often act as drug runners for the big dogs who would squash MS13 like a bug if they were in Thailand. The big guys who traffic drugs around SE Asia used to have their own personal army and intelligence agency. Go look up Khun Sa sometime.

On the news you see the small runners get popped all the time with a huge drug cache. Where does that come from and who greenlights trafficking on that level? HMMM.. the actual drug lords are mostly untouchable in SE Asia.

[SuperstarStatus]

Bangkok has one Americanized street gang there that I know of, I forgot what neighborhood they are in, I remember I rode through it on the bus once, there Hood is called "ABG" (Asian Blood Gang) They will also tag up the walls in red with numbers 4136 .. 4=A 13=B 6=G .. I believe the guy who brought it to BKK is from Long Beach California .. It's funny they have myspace profiles of them all Draped (draped means to wear all one color) in all red & black, with big bandannas printed on they shirts and 4136 on the back, but I saw dudes pictures while he was in long beach and he has no colors on and looks like a normal kid, he knows hel_l get killed quick throwing the blood shit in long beach, plus he's Thai (Thailand/Thai people is one of the few SE Asian countries known NOT to gangbang) and Long Beach is full of ABZ & TRG Cambodians but also take in all asians.

I'm not sure if these fools put in work (put in work = represent there gang, sell drugs, gang fight, tag walls, murder ect..) bangkok is so big, it's its easy not to notice them. I seen a member on the city bus and dude and do shit but look hard at me AFTER he got off the bus. So I don't know if these boys respected like that. Who knows. They do have guns, but who doesn't.

[SuperstarStatus]

[manarak]

Thailand has street gangs: the cops.

They will beat up / arrest / eliminate any competitor.

[waza]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/393340-after-upheaval-not-all-is-well-with-thai-youth/page__pid__3839332#entry3839332

[bonobo]

Bangkok has one Americanized street gang there that I know of, I forgot what neighborhood they are in, I remember I rode through it on the bus once, there Hood is called "ABG" (Asian Blood Gang) They will also tag up the walls in red with numbers 4136 .. 4=A 13=B 6=G .. I believe the guy who brought it to BKK is from Long Beach California .. It's funny they have myspace profiles of them all Draped (draped means to wear all one color) in all red & black, with big bandannas printed on they shirts and 4136 on the back, but I saw dudes pictures while he was in long beach and he has no colors on and looks like a normal kid, he knows hel_l get killed quick throwing the blood shit in long beach, plus he's Thai (Thailand/Thai people is one of the few SE Asian countries known NOT to gangbang) and Long Beach is full of ABZ & TRG Cambodians but also take in all asians.

I'm not sure if these fools put in work (put in work = represent there gang, sell drugs, gang fight, tag walls, murder ect..) bangkok is so big, it's its easy not to notice them. I seen a member on the city bus and dude and do shit but look hard at me AFTER he got off the bus. So I don't know if these boys respected like that. Who knows. They do have guns, but who doesn't.

Is ABG here a copycat gang, or is it affiliated with the US gangs?  There are numerous SE Asian gangs in the US, and I wonder if they also work in the home countries of Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.  I frankly don't know, but I do know that the Chinese gangs in the US have some affiliation with gangs back in Hong Kong and China. 

[SuperstarStatus]

Bangkok has one Americanized street gang there that I know of, I forgot what neighborhood they are in, I remember I rode through it on the bus once, there Hood is called "ABG" (Asian Blood Gang) They will also tag up the walls in red with numbers 4136 .. 4=A 13=B 6=G .. I believe the guy who brought it to BKK is from Long Beach California .. It's funny they have myspace profiles of them all Draped (draped means to wear all one color) in all red & black, with big bandannas printed on they shirts and 4136 on the back, but I saw dudes pictures while he was in long beach and he has no colors on and looks like a normal kid, he knows hel_l get killed quick throwing the blood shit in long beach, plus he's Thai (Thailand/Thai people is one of the few SE Asian countries known NOT to gangbang) and Long Beach is full of ABZ & TRG Cambodians but also take in all asians.

I'm not sure if these fools put in work (put in work = represent there gang, sell drugs, gang fight, tag walls, murder ect..) bangkok is so big, it's its easy not to notice them. I seen a member on the city bus and dude and do shit but look hard at me AFTER he got off the bus. So I don't know if these boys respected like that. Who knows. They do have guns, but who doesn't.

Is ABG here a copycat gang, or is it affiliated with the US gangs? There are numerous SE Asian gangs in the US, and I wonder if they also work in the home countries of Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. I frankly don't know, but I do know that the Chinese gangs in the US have some affiliation with gangs back in Hong Kong and China.

I think ABG is just a gang made up by a guy from America took it to Bangkok and started his own thing, it only makeS sense, he is from long beach California, and there are no Blood gangs there at all. His gang would not survive in long beach.

Chinese youth street gangs in America are different, because they are more into structure, and some like "wah ching" and "Joe boys" will keep ties with triads in china.

While south east gangs like Lao gangs, Khmer Mien and Hmong gangs are just turf gangs or in it for the thrill of it, there's really no gain to it other than protection from other gangs, yet some of these gangs do have a Ladder of structure and shot callers, and do make alittle money, i don't believe they are heavy overseas like the Chinese youth gangs in America.

Like I said I think it was fairly easy for the guy to come America and show his friends he made in bkk what being a gangster is and to always have a Red Rag (Red bandanna) , it's so easy to brain wash any youth anywhere, shit I could go there tomarrow and make friends and have them all playing chess because I thought that was the cool thing to do.

[StreetCowboy]

8>< SNIP ><8

Like I said I think it was fairly easy for the guy to come America and show his friends he made in bkk what being a gangster is and to always have a Red Rag (Red bandanna) , it's so easy to brain wash any youth anywhere, shit I could go there tomarrow and make friends and have them all playing chess because I thought that was the cool thing to do.

I don't think you could brain wash anyone into doing anything.

I'm surprised you can even - no, wait a minute, you probably wear loafers...

SC

[SuperstarStatus]

8>< SNIP ><8

Like I said I think it was fairly easy for the guy to come America and show his friends he made in bkk what being a gangster is and to always have a Red Rag (Red bandanna) , it's so easy to brain wash any youth anywhere, shit I could go there tomarrow and make friends and have them all playing chess because I thought that was the cool thing to do.

I don't think you could brain wash anyone into doing anything.

I'm surprised you can even - no, wait a minute, you probably wear loafers...

SC

it seems like I have brain washed you into typing a smart ass comment after every post I type.

Quit stalking. Have fun with the knife weilding wife and walking on eggshells around her for the rest of your life.

[IanForbes]

Why worry about gangs? The government policies lead by lawyers, judges and police actually PROMOTE crime. They LIKE the action. It puts more money in their pockets. There are many better ways to solve the crime and street gang problem, but that would take away from the power that law authorities hold so dear. Most crime operates on illegal drugs and illicit, stolen goods. Legalize the hard drugs and make them readily available, and 60% or more of the crime would dry up. But again, that would cut into the secondary profits made by lawyers and judges.

[bina]

maybe they just arent noticeable to someone who isnt really inside... here, we have four families /plus a few russian families, that are the mafia/gang groups in israel. their kids go to school with everyone elses kids, attend weddings/events, etc... and u would never know who they are if u dont actually know who they are. i.e. someone not from here wouldnt recognize anyone of them. no one walks around wearing shirts/colours/bandanas or whatever to i.d. themselves. its enough that u say the name of your town/family name . i think htat is the same in most asian countries because FAMILY is the tie. there is no need for external id. those that need to know, know. in the states, real family attatchments are less binding. americans arent very 'rooted' people. so they have to create artificial means of creating bonds/ties and 'family' structures'. also the means of identifying with eachother. here also there are thai mafia and only other thai seem to know. look the same as anybody else to me.

bina

[IanForbes]

Good point, bina. The actual tough guys KNOW they are tough. They don't have to show off with bravado.

[Thongkorn]

Thailand has street gangs: the cops.

They will beat up / arrest / eliminate any competitor.

Similar to the UK , they Take your money off you , its just pay pay and pay, But at the end of the day we did vote them in.

[TheLaughingMan]

As has been pointed out. Thailand has one huge gang, the police. The fact that the op had to ask when the answer is so obvious astounds me. Do people really still not know?!

[yellow1red1]

yellow shirts and red shirts wear their colors, so do brown shirts

[katana]

Some of the technical colleges can get pretty violent. Just yesterday afternoon there was a big fight between two rival colleges, the Pathumthanee Technology College and the Ramintra Dusit Technology School. The fight took place at a bus stop outside Future Park in Rangsiit in Pathumthani province.

Guns and knives were used. 1 dead and two seriously injured.

Apparently these fights between the technology colleges happen quite often.

http://www.thairath.co.th/content/region/106746

[CarlBkk]

Yes, the student fighting has been going on over 30 years here and could be considered gang-like. It's an even bigger problem in Indonesia and Malaysia. Completely petty - general school rivalry where a fight turned into group on group and then passed down the intakes.

The police are the most obvious (and world-renowned) corrupt force here, but lots of other offshoots such as immigration officers, border officers, taxi touts, massage touts, motorbike taxi ranks etc. all connected. The military might also be accused of being a gang due to their influence on legal cases and various other things. Certainly not as in-your-face though. Indonesia even has an "immitation army"...mafia types who wear the uniform to extort money but aren't actually in the army.

Motorbike gangs here do some damage too, but look to the Philippines for more organised ones. Seen two skinhead gangs clash there before, even the huge security guards just gave up trying to break it up...and it went on and on and on.