From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Snakeheads (Chinese: 蛇頭; pinyin: shé tóu) are Chinese gangs who smuggle people to other countries. They are often found in the Fujian region of China and smuggle their customers into wealthier Western countries in Western Europe, North America or Australasia. The rate of payment for successful smuggling can sometimes be as high as US$50,000. Snakeheads use various methods to get their customers to the West. They may employ the use of stolen or altered passports, improperly obtained visas, and bribes to move people from nation to nation until they arrive at their final destination.
One notable Snakehead member is Cheng Chui Ping or "Sister Ping". [1].
[edit] Etymology
The word "snakehead" has its root in a metaphor used in the Chinese language. The people being smuggled are often referred to as a "man-snake" (Chinese: 人蛇; pinyin: rén shé). The smugglers, as the leaders, or "heads", are thus seen to be this snake's head. The English word "snakehead" is a direct calque of the Chinese expression.
[edit] In popular culture
- The Snakeheads are one of the featured villains in Anthony Horowitz's Snakehead
- In one of the missions in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas the player finds himself on a ship carrying illegal Vietnamese immigrants, with the gangster running the operation referred to as 'the Snakehead'.
[edit] References
- Thompson, Tony. Gangs: A Journey into the heart of the British Underworld, 2004 ISBN 0-340-83053-0
[edit] External links
