Chapter 6
When they arrived back at the Navy Yard, they found Fornell was making himself comfortable in Gibbs chair.
"Sorry Boss, couldn't stop him," Tim apologised.
"Since you seem to think you're Boss, what you got for us Tobias."
"Ever played roulette? Forget the Black Dragons…",Fornell began to say.
"Red is my lucky colour, but enlighten me," Gibbs smiled.
"Jethro," Fornell began to say, "And there was me thinking I had something for you."
"Fornell, we have just spent time with Rivera, and he mentioned the Red Dragons, and I think you can tell us more," as Gibbs indicated that Fornell vacated his desk.
"The Red Dragons…a more sophisticated Chinese criminal group," Tobias began to say "Which are, not only involved in human trafficking, but have moved cocaine and synthetic drugs from Peru to Panama. There are also reports of Chinese mafias in Mexico, trafficking precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production."
"We got the connection then," Steve replied smiling.
"Human smuggling?" Sima asked frowning.
"Oh yes, it is an especially lucrative business for Chinese importers in Argentina, as Latin America is an important transit point for Chinese nationals seeking to enter the United States without visas. Chinese mafias reportedly, charge up to $60,000 per person, bringing Chinese immigrants to countries along Latin America's Pacific coast, including Ecuador and Columbia. Once in Latin America, many Chinese continue their journey north, using overland routes, travelling through Central America and Mexico before entering the United States," Fornell continued.
"Strewth, so not only drugs but people, neva' thought that," Sima replied.
"But, if you are not careful, you could blow the whole West Coast operation, I have been asked if we could maybe cool it a bit," Tobias added looking at the Australian.
"Like hell mate, we need to find who is smuggling the drugs to Australia," Steve began to say, "You cool it, I got a job to do."
"'Scuse here," Sima began to say, "The fatha', he is, as Tim said, a successful business man, importing clothing from where and do we have a name?"
"Kai Lee, China…Shanghai to be precise, and Taiwan," Tim announced.
"And do we have any gangs there?" Gibbs wondered.
"Looking Boss," as Tim typed at the keyboard, "Got the Flying Dragons, they are active there and Hong Kong, and here's the interesting bit, they have been said to be located in parts of Canada and Australia."
"I'm liking this less and less," Fornell replied shaking his head.
"Right we need to really sit and work out what's what," Gibbs ordered.
-oOo-
The team had moved to one of the conference rooms, and had laid all the information on the table. Tim had wired up a computer and a screen or two, they were ready to roll.
"Ok, what we got from the start is one dead Ozzie CPO, by name of Bruce Lee," Steve began to say.
"The fatha', Kai Lee importing clothing, from Shanghai, under the name of Kayleigh Fashions, the route seems to be Shanghai to LA and then from LA to Mexico and down to Peru," as Sima brought up a shipping map.
"I like the Mexican bit…not" Tony announced.
"What he exports to Peru and Mexico are unknown, as is the return route, but another route is L.A. to Australia," Sima continued.
"Tell me, if we go down that route" as Tony smiled, "The L.A. over the border to Mexico route, across from West to East picking up the old Reynosa route."
"Could we stop saying route? It annoys me," Fornell replied.
"Going back to the fatha', Bruce gets in touch with him saying that the motha' is dying and wants to make amends. The fatha' now sees a connection between LA and Sidney," Sima offered.
"Bonza, Sima, and father mentions, to the Flying Dragons in Shanghai, who mention the Black Dragons in L.A., who mention the Red Dragons who mention, Alejandro Rivera or Pedro," Steve added.
"Works for me can I pass on to my counterparts in L.A.?" Fornell enquired.
"Wait, but who was in the car with Pedro, if it was him. Tyler said Bruce was meeting Pedro, then, we have the Mexican connection. Could the other guy you saw be the father?" Gibbs asked.
"No Boss, he was in L.A. at the time, but some interesting transactions in his firm's accounts," Tim added bringing up something on the other screen.
"How convenient," Ellie replied, "But if we have the Dragons, maybe a Mexican Dragon?"
"Try Quetzalcoatl," Steve suggested.
"What?" Gibbs quizzed now looking at Steve.
"Quetzalcoatl, a Mexican Flying Dragon from folklore….." Steve answered.
"Now you are being silly," Fornell muttered.
"No, actually I got a message from home; they mentioned they had intercepted a message from a Q-9…"
"A what?" both Gibbs and Tony shouted.
"Boss, Q9 is in is an input method that uses only number keys on a numeric keypad to input Chinese characters into a digital device. Additional controls are usually available to reset the input method's state, and to switch to English letters, digits or punctuation."
"Too much information McGee, tell me in English," Gibbs now ordered.
"What Tim is saying, is we have the major player in Mexico, who is by the sounds of it, is Chinese," Steve translated.
"Well find him, I would say back over the border, so your shout, Fornell," as Gibbs turned to Tobias.
"Getting on blower," Tobias smiled.
"Think he's learnin'," Sima laughed at Tony.