In the nation's largest city,
the vicious and violent members of the underworld
are hunted by the detectives
of the Organized Crime Control Bureau.
These are their stories.
- Help! - Thurman, what's going on?
Get down here right now.
Lee's biggest opposition isn't another politician.
It's the gangs of Chinatown.
We didn't take that shot,
and whoever did missed and got the wife.
So you think they missed?
Detective Chang.
4th Precinct, Community Affairs.
This is an Organized Crime case.
And this is Chinatown, Sergeant.
I see you've met Michael Quan,
my biggest campaign donor.
Recently, I was helping to build Mott Street House.
It's Jennifer's foundation.
It houses victims of human trafficking.
I did a dive into Stephen Lee's campaign finances.
Quan financed Lee's campaign,
all of it with dirty money.
He's the one behind the trafficking.
So he's the one that needed Jennifer Lee out of the way.
I have decided to honor my friend Stephen Lee
by taking his place in the race for councilman.
You and I both know that you're responsible
for the attempted murder of Jennifer Lee.
You will go down for it.
Our target is Michael Quan,
business owner, entrepreneur,
and current city council candidate.
Quan's CV reads like the American dream.
1984, he immigrates from Hong Kong
with just enough to open a store in Chinatown.
40 years later, he owns half the neighborhood.
Quan's campaign says he built his wealth
creating opportunity for the people of his community.
Truth is, he got his fortune from human trafficking.
Quan's victims are kidnapped in China
and smuggled into the U.S. via shipping containers.
Once they arrive, they're sold to a network
of business owners in Chinatown.
And the owners give Quan a kickback for the labor.
Modern-day slavery.
Running for office seems risky.
I mean, doesn't that open Quan up to exposure?
Well, right now there's a lot of political pressure
to shut the gangs down.
If that happens, Quan's operation's
gonna be significantly impacted.
And we've all seen the lengths
he'll go to with Jennifer Lee.
That's why he wants on the council.
He wants the power so that he can neutralize
that threat from the inside.
So how do we nail this guy?
We want to take Quan down, we have to directly connect him
to the smuggling operation.
How?
We know the gangs do his dirty work.
We don't need his gangs.
We have his ship. - Ship?
The "Blue Siren," currently en route
from mainland China and owned by Michael Quan.
Through a shell company.
Jet got us that through Quan's financials
at China Global.
And Detective Chang's recon
with Border Patrol got us the rest.
And thanks to them, we know his shipment arrives
via the "Blue Siren" tonight.
So what's the plan?
Pickup at the "Blue Siren."
Where's Enrique?
No idea. I'm just taking his shifts.
He's in.
Let's hope the intel was right.
Uh, "Blue Siren," 1-2-4-8-4.
1-2-4-8-4. Let's go.
- All right. - Let's load it up.
- Good? - All set.
Yeah.
Okay, move in on your command, Sarge.
Open the trailer! Now!
Get out! Get out!
What the hell?
What's happening there?
- It's under attack. - We're on it.
Open the trailer now!
Get out! - All right.
Take it--hey! - Get out!
Take it easy, yo.
Hey, I'm just the driver, man.
Open this now.
All right, take it easy.
Take it easy, take it easy, take it easy.
- Now! - Okay.
All right, let me just get the keys, man.
Let me get the keys. Police.
Drop it.
Drop the bat.
Stay there. Stay there. - Police! Don't move.
Get the people out of there! I'll get him.
Police, stop. Stop.
Police! Stop! Drop the bat.
Drop--get off the fence.
Drop the bat.
Keep your hands right there. Do not move.
You don't understand.
My--my son--my son is in the container.
They're gone.
Where did they go?
Well, there were definitely people here.
So we had the right boat, wrong drop spot?
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.
I got Jet on the phone with the Coast Guard right now.
You got a cut.
Guy came out of nowhere.
All the way from China, actually, the Hunan province.
His English is pretty good.
Yeah, he's a schoolteacher. Name's Wen Shao.
What's he doing here?
He says gangs kidnapped his son a couple weeks back.
When local authorities wouldn't help, he hopped on a plane,
came here to try to find him himself.
His name is Bo.
He's only 16.
Can I show you a picture?
My phone is on the seat there.
- Mm-hmm. - Please look.
I thought he was already loaded into your truck.
So did we.
I paid a man a lot of money for information.
He's supposed to be on the boat.
What man?
Who'd you pay?
Do you know who's responsible for kidnapping your son?
You have to let me go, please.
Well, we can't do that.
What is going to happen to me?
Coast Guard's saying they found something.
We gotta go look. - Is it my son?
Keep an eye on him.
Abandoned life raft.
A local fisherman called this into our station,
but we got no reason to think
it was deployed from the "Blue Siren."
Well, we do.
We got a dozen people who are supposed to be on that ship,
and they're nowhere to be found.
How does the Coast Guard not see a life raft in open water?
High winds, low visibility.
Tough to spot a life raft in those conditions
unless you're looking.
Found a match.
IMO number on the side of the raft
shows it's registered to the "Blue Siren."
Can I see what you got there?
12 people could fit in that thing, huh?
Looks like it to me.
Hey, Sarge, parking lot surveillance
shows a dozen people coming up shore about an hour ago.
Looks like they were loaded onto a moving truck
by guys with guns.
All right, tell that Coast Guard captain
we're gonna have some more questions for him.
Did we get a license on the truck?
No, but it's part of a chain, Excelsior.
We can start there.
- Okay. - Good.
Let's move, let's move.
Let's go!
Move it, move it. Let's go.
Move.
Welcome to America.
This is your new home.
We spent a lot of money and a lot of time
to get you here to give you all this new opportunity.
You're welcome.
You're gonna get new names and new identities.
But that's not cheap.
And this ain't a charity.
You will pay us back.
And we will make sure that you do.
I'm not supposed to be here.
You understand me?
What's your name?
Bo.
You speak some good English, Bo.
My--my father taught me.
He's a teacher.
Please, I wanna go home.
Let's move them out.
Let's get them inspected.
Not him. Leave him in the back.
Yeah, we had a little problem at the dock with our contact.
What you want me to do?
Wen's story checks out.
Where is he now? - We have him in holding.
Oh.
Three weeks ago, he filed a missing person's report
on his son with Shaoyang Police.
Where is Shaoyang?
It's about a 700-mile bus ride to Beijing
and then a 7,000-mile journey from Beijing to New York.
- Damn. - Yeah.
I'd do the same thing for my son.
Yeah, but you're a cop.
He's a teacher.
We're fathers.
What you got for me?
Hey, BOLO caught an abandoned Excelsior truck.
The GPS was turned off, but I think we found something.
I'm gonna send you a pic.
Hold on. - Okay.
Best translation we can find
has it saying, "12 hostages, help."
Okay, I'm looking at the picture right now.
Find out who rented the truck.
Copy that.
Colin, come in.
Excuse the mess.
They're just fixing some things up around here.
You heard what happened with the cops?
Yeah, I heard. What did you tell them?
Nothing. I protected you.
Good.
Then you did what you were supposed to.
No, you told me all I had to do was look the other way.
What I did back there, that was way more than that.
What do you want?
I want double for protection and discretion.
You're running for office now.
I don't think you want what I know getting out there.
Would ya?
No, I wouldn't.
Kai.
Pay the man his fee.
- Yeah, now? - Yeah. Have no choice now.
Thanks again for all your help.
Hey, hey!
Stabler's chasing down a lead on Wen's son,
but I don't want us taking our eyes off of Quan.
If we wanna get him, our best bet is still
tracking down these victims.
Well, we know once they get here,
they're worked into the system.
And we know it's the gangs who do it.
It'd be great to find out which one.
I may have someone who can find out.
Sarge, I just got off the phone with Excelsior.
Worth Street's missing a truck.
Okay, grab Jamie and Reyes.
- See if you can trace it. - Copy.
So where are we headed?
Chinatown.
Am I getting out now?
What about my son? Do you know where he is?
We're working on that, but, uh, we need your help.
I wanna talk to your contact, the one who told you
your son was on that ship.
Is he here?
No.
No, he's not here?
No, he's my contact, not yours.
Wen, I wanna help you.
I asked the police for help back home.
They said no.
They said my son ran away.
They know the truth, but they do nothing.
I'm not them.
Then let me out.
If you give me the name of your contact.
Do you have children?
I do.
Would you trust someone else to find them?
Wen, we're dealing with a very dangerous gang.
You're gonna need more than a baseball bat.
You understand?
Bo was two when we lost his mother.
I would not have made it without him.
He would not have made it without me.
You understand?
You let me out, I take you to my contact.
Otherwise, I say nothing.
Isabelle, you didn't warn me?
My clients see police here, they won't come back.
They're gamblers.
I think they're used to taking their chances.
You're here to ask me something.
Two nights ago, a shipment came in off the "Blue Siren."
We wanna know who handled the transfer.
It's either Doyers Street or Black Tiger.
So which is it?
Sorry, I can't help you.
Women and children were on that boat.
They need our help.
Detective Chang says you're the ears and eyes of this place.
And there are things I choose not to see for my own safety.
Stay for lunch.
Tell Niko it's on me.
That's all I can offer you.
Well, so much for your CI.
We should have stayed.
We could have at least got a meal out of it.
Ayanna, that wasn't my CI.
Sister Shu plays both sides.
First thing she's gonna do is call whoever's
got our victims and tell them the cops
are looking into them.
And whoever that is will get back to my CIs.
So we'll know which gang has our victims?
- Mm-hmm. - All right. That was good.
Give me a heads up next time.
He's never seen your face?
No, we only spoke on the phone.
All right, well, keep your mouth shut
and let me handle this.
Bill Huang?
Yes.
What is this about?
- Tell me where my son is. - Who are you?
He's the guy that you talked to about the "Blue Siren."
I'm the guy who wants to find out about the operation.
"Blue Siren"?
I don't know what you're talking about.
You lie!
He makes the passports. That's how he knows.
You tell me where my son is! - Wait outside. Wait outside!
That was kind of interesting, huh?
You forge passports?
I don't want to, but gangs make me.
Oh, the gangs make you?
Mm-hmm.
They pick them up, or do you deliver?
Deliver.
Where?
What the hell was that back there?
I told you to let me do the talking.
I'm sorry, but it got you an address.
Good teamwork.
Good cop, bad cop.
I apologize.
All right.
Can I show you something?
Sure.
Bo made his own electric bike--
no instructions.
Really?
He wants to work with rockets.
Hmm.
I was never good with my hands.
Don't know where he gets it from.
These are mine.
- Five? - Mm.
How do you get a moment's peace?
We didn't.
God, I miss it every day.
Bo wanted to come to America for school.
I told him no.
I should have let him go.
A father's job is to protect his children.
I will not stop.
Jamie.
Hey, so the rental agreement for the truck
used a burner phone, but we pinged the location
to a building off of Doyers.
On Pell?
How'd you know that?
We got the same address. How far out are you?
We're already here.
Wait here.
They're guarding something.
Any exigent circumstances here?
Abandoned truck's not gonna do it.
They're not gonna invite us in.
We got a bogey coming in.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, is that your--
You have my son!
I told him to wait in the car.
- Hey! - You have my son.
- Drop your weapon! - Police! Freeze!
Drop your weapon now!
Stay away from the gun. Get on the ground.
Wen? You got him?
- Yep. - We got him, go.
Hey, hey, I told you to stay in the car.
My son could be in there.
I'm not staying in the car.
Police. Don't move. Don't move.
Turn around. Get on the ground.
Bo?
My son's not here.
Excuse me. Captain Lin knows I'm coming.
Andrew, why is my building being raided by the police?
I'm just getting caught up.
- You don't know? - About your sweatshop?
Yeah, I told him.
What's he doing here?
Michael, there's some serious claims
about your business right now--
undocumented workers, extortion.
Detective Stabler should get his facts straight.
It's my building but not my business.
If illegal activity was happening, I was unaware.
We'll see about that.
I'm more than happy to cooperate
and clear this matter up, but not with him.
Afraid of what else I'll find?
Detective.
When I'm elected, I'm gonna make sure
that police like you don't get away with intimidating
my constituents like this.
How's that gonna work with you under federal indictment?
You hear this? This is harassment.
He said he's going to cooperate.
Let me take it from here.
Yes, sir.
I got work to do, anyway.
Look, Quan's dirty.
He's just smart enough
to shield himself from anything illegal.
So the raid was a bust?
I wouldn't say that.
I mean, those workers were definitely
being held against their will.
Were any of them from the "Siren"?
No, this group was already worked into the system.
But it does tell us that we're on the right track.
Wen, do you think any of them will speak up,
help us find the others?
They can't.
They have families back in China,
families that will get hurt by the gangs
if the people here speak out.
These families, they're just regular people.
The gangs choose the ones who can't fight back.
They didn't count on you, did they?
The richer families, they sometimes
can afford the ransom.
But the rest of us...
You know, maybe there's a way to draw Quan out.
Well, what do we have that he wants?
Wen.
We have Wen offer to buy his son back.
That could work.
Gangs will sell to families.
It's a win-win for them-- more money upfront, less hassle.
Set up the buy. We just need the money.
Have you heard back from your CI?
He confirmed Doyers Street has our vics
from the "Blue Siren," but he doesn't know where.
Can your CI arrange a buy?
Tell them it's a father trying to buy back his son,
I don't think they turn it down.
Okay, give us a second.
Okay, from what you told me he did at the shop
and the factory... - Mm-hmm.
He hasn't listened to anything we've told him.
True.
Do you think we can trust him to do this?
Do we have another option?
I can talk to him again. I believe he can do it.
I think we need him to do it.
You're late.
I was, uh, taking care of a problem for you.
You know, I pay your men for protection.
They failed, and now I'm exposed.
My crew messed up.
But I made sure they learned their lesson.
What about my exposure?
All these eyes on the "Blue Siren,"
the raid at the factory...
buyers, they don't like all this heat on you.
Tell them we're going to great lengths
to protect their anonymity.
You gotta tell 'em that
you'll be at the auction yourself.
Then they'll know it's secure.
I--I am not taking risks like that
with this detective poking around.
So let's take care of him.
There may be another way.
Detective Chang knows someone
who has arranged a meeting with you and the seller.
- Who was it? - It's an informant.
Someone on the inside of the Doyers Street Gang.
He has my son?
We don't know exactly how this works
or whether Bo will even be there.
But if Bo's not there, how can I get him back?
Wen, sit.
Then we take it one step at a time,
but I need you not to lose your cool.
You can't lose control like you did at the shop.
Then we risk losing him.
It's just--
I think of Bo locked up in a cage somewhere,
and I get upset.
I understand.
Trust me, I understand.
You're a teacher back home, right?
What do you teach?
Biology. Secondary school.
Okay, so you deal with teenagers all day long.
You need patience, right?
Yes.
You don't go after 'em with a baseball bat, do you?
- No. - Okay.
That's the guy I need.
The one in the classroom.
Because if this exchange goes sideways
and I have to intervene,
we'll lose our shot.
Tell me you can do this.
I can do this.
I don't know exactly how this works.
How what works?
We're just two friends having a meal.
I have your money.
Just chill.
Come on, man.
Yeung may have vouched you, but you're a stranger to me.
How much is in the bag?
15,000, just like you asked.
Slide it over.
Vacation pics.
Take a look. Tell me your fave.
This is him.
This is my son.
You sure?
Yes.
No deal.
Why?
Kid's special. It changes things.
I already gave you money.
Just keep your voice down, all right?
Now, I can't get you your kid.
He's off limits.
You let me keep this, I'll get you an invite.
An invite to what?
The auction...
Where you can bid on your kid alongside everybody else.
I am not like everyone else.
And I will do whatever it takes to get him, you understand?
You want him, he'll be there--
long as you have the money.
I'll be in touch with instructions.
And I suggest you follow them
'cause now I know which one's your kid.
- Easy, easy. - He has my son.
I know he does.
If you want him back, you've gotta let him go.
Just relax, relax.
All right, everybody listen up, gather around.
The mission has changed.
It's no longer an exchange.
It's an auction.
A what?
An auction, a human auction.
Jesus.
That's disgusting.
How do these even work?
We don't know much.
It's not the kind of intel that leaks.
So what do we do?
Well, the broker that met with Wen in the diner
will give him the time and place,
and that's when and where we'll make our move.
Are we gonna have time to scout?
Not without drawing attention.
We know it'll be secure.
Just how secure is the question.
We need to protect the victims here.
If we rush in with ESU, things are gonna escalate.
Somebody's gonna get hurt.
That's why Wen should go in first.
He's the one with the invite.
He'll get in there, and he'll give us the lay of the land.
Do you really think Wen can handle this?
He knows what's at stake if he doesn't
follow orders this time.
Hi, Thurman.
We have a problem.
Human trafficking has infected our neighborhoods,
our communities, our city,
and it has to stop.
Outside efforts have failed.
It's time we protect our own, which is why I am donating
$2 million to the 4th Precinct
to open a new task force where together,
we will end the abuse plaguing the city and
put a stop to this horrific practice.
Because for me...
these crimes strike home.
I guess this is what happens when you rattle the cage.
Quan is a political mastermind.
He said task force. He trying to push us out?
He's trying to shut us down.
We did hit his boat and his factory.
It was only a matter of time till he hit back.
How long you think till Captain Lin
and 1PP tell us to back off?
I don't think we wanna wait to find out.
Look, we wanted to catch Quan's operation in the act.
This auction is our chance.
Good afternoon. I'm Captain Andrew Lin.
It's spelled L-I-N.
Hey, where are you at?
I just saw you on TV.
We're all set.
Good.
Time to celebrate.
Quan just donated $2 million to the department.
He's already got the support of his community.
Now he's got the commissioner
and the chief of detectives under his thumb.
That's how Quan makes his moves.
He buys everyone's trust, keeps his enemies close.
That's what he did with Stephen and Jennifer Lee.
If you're wrong and this comes out,
it'll turn into a firestorm for 1PP.
You understand that?
And if I'm right
and it comes out we did nothing,
how's that gonna look?
Wen's contact has the invite.
He wants to meet in person to hand it off.
You're leaving this entire operation on him?
He's our in.
Without him, we don't have access.
Quan's office lodged a formal complaint
after your raid.
I protected you; I won't be able to do that again.
We don't need protection.
We need the buy money for the auction.
Yeah, and how am I supposed to justify that?
'Cause as far as I'm concerned, all you've gotten so far
is an empty shipping container and a botched exchange.
The exchange got us the invite.
Quan says he wants to stop human trafficking in Chinatown.
I say we take him at his word.
Look, getting funding for this operation won't be easy.
He just gave us $2 million, didn't he?
Everyone up! Line up!
Move!
Hey, wake him up.
What's going on?
- Heads down, single file. - Where are we going?
Let's move. Let's move.
Let's go.
Did you get the location?
- I know everything. - All right, good.
Let's get you set up. - Okay.
So let's talk this through.
You're gonna be our eyes and ears on the inside.
Just tell us everything you see--entrances,
exits, security, anything that we can use
to keep people safe.
As soon as you have eyes on the auction, we'll move in.
Where will you will be?
We'll be right behind you.
He's all set.
You ready?
It's time.
Thank you.
ID?
I'm here for the event.
Event's in the back. Enjoy your evening.
I'm in.
There's civilians in there. I don't like it.
Maybe that's the point.
Stabler, what's your read?
Hang on.
Two guards in the back, both armed.
Jamie, Reyes, see if you can get in from the back.
We're on it.
Invite?
Hey, Sarge,
I'm looking at Quan's car.
We could get him tonight.
Okay, I need everyone on high alert.
We're not just here for the victims.
We're here for Quan too.
Proceed with caution, but do not let him leave.
The auction closes at 2:00 a.m.
Yeah, we have a problem.
The auction is here.
All right, let's move in.
Hey, what's up? What's going on?
Move everything out now.
Now!
Police!
Don't move. Stay with him.
Go, go, go, go, go, go! Go!
NYPD! Nobody move.
Stay where you are. You too.
Hands on the wall. Hands on the wall now.
Secure these two.
Party's over!
Nobody leaves this room.
Where's Quan?
Go, go! Get in! Let's go!
Let's go.
Hey, police. Get down.
Ah, nope, don't try it.
Nowhere to go.
Get on your knees.
Get on your knees!
Put your hands on your head.
It's okay.
You're safe now.
You're safe.
Drive-- straight to the airport.
I said drive. - I can't.
Someone's pointing a gun at me.
Mr. Quan, where are you off to in such a hurry tonight?
It doesn't matter. You're under arrest.
Get out of the car, please.
- Friends on the force at 1PP. - Yeah.
They're not gonna stand for this.
Well, I guess we're gonna have to find out
about that, right?
- Father! - Bo!
We got his son back against all odds.
Kind of amazing.
What's the status of their return?
Couple of days of interviews with the Justice Department,
district attorney's office,
and then they'll be on their way.
Da's gonna have their hands full with Quan.
Yeah, and those wire transfers of his?
That's 15 counts of trafficking right there.
Mm, I'll celebrate when there's a conviction.
- Is he always like that? - Yeah, always, really.
Detective, nice working with you.
We did good work together.
It's too bad it's over.
Now I don't have an excuse to see you.
Well, I don't think we need an excuse.
Get dinner?
Detective, I would like to introduce you to my son.
Bo, it's nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, sir.
Your father's a great man.
Very stubborn but very brave.
The DA's here.
Wen, if I don't see you again, take care of yourself.
You, too, and that family of yours.
- You heading back? - Huh?
We're gonna grab a bite around the corner.
No, I need to go home.
Thanks, guys.
- All right, rain check? - Yeah.
- All right. - See you tomorrow.
So my room hasn't changed.
Yeah, all the dirty clothes are strewn
all over the place like you left 'em.
Ooh. This smells good.
- Mm. - What is it?
Cacciucco alla Livornese.
It's my recipe.
I created this in Italy. Here. Have a taste.
- Mmm. - Yeah?
- Yeah, it's fire. - Yeah.
Hope you're hungry.
After three months of dorm food, it's on.
So talk to me. How you doing?
- Good. - Mm-hmm.
I like my classes.
Quad-mates are cool. - Mm-hmm.
When is Grandma and everyone else getting here?
Tomorrow--it'll just be you and me tonight.
For real?
Yeah, it gives us a chance to catch up.
You know, haven't seen you in a while.
- Yeah. It's been a while. - Yeah.
Grab the wine.
So let's get to the important stuff.
Seeing anyone?
I have friends. We hang out.
Got a name?
- Rachel. - Rachel?
She's from Colorado.
She has red hair... - Mm.
- She's smart... - Good.
- Thinks I'm funny. - Hey, that's important.
She laughs at your jokes. That's a big deal.
That's the most important thing, I would say.
That's good.
She hikes.
Well, nobody's perfect.
I'm glad you're home.