Asian organized crime groups originate primarily from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. The primary organized crime groups originating from Japan are the Yakuza, or Yamaguchi-gumi. The primary organized groups originating from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau are the Triad, and the Tongs. (Abadinsky, 2004)

What is commonly known as the American Mafia are Italian organized crime groups which have originated from the Sicily region of Italy and also from Southern Italy. (Abadinsky, 2004)

The American Mafia groups are known as “Crime Families” because they commonly follow familial lines. Asian organized crime groups are structured differently than the American mafia in that typically have a “street gang” structure that does not follow family lines.

Asian gangs are also different in that they tend to limit their criminal activities to members of their own race. For example, in the United States, they frequently target Asian owned businesses for extortion.
References

Abadinsky, Howard. (2004). Organized Crime. Belmont, California: Thomson Wadsworth.

APA Citation:
Smith, Nathan. M. (2006). Asian Organized Crime vs. the American Mafia.
Retrieved September 8, 2008, from http://www.computer-forensic-technician.com/wordpress/asian-organized-crime-vs-the-american-mafia/.