I've met some high ranking members of a triad organisation around 15 yrs ago

Several times in fact, because I knew their underlings and was invited to their parties. I would be seated at a table and we were all served a huge amount of drinks (which bizarrely nobody touched)

The higher ranked guys would order champagne and sit talk amongst themselves

Another time I was introduced to "Tony Lombrani" who was a hench man that was sent down along with the Krays

He did a long time too. Anyway, had no idea who he was and when I was introduced- the club owner who was a friend of mine said he's a big gangster

They told Tony I was a big mafia fan so tony asked IF I had read his books?

lol I hadn't and that was the worse feeling ever. But he was a cool guy, had one bodyguard with him. They left to go do a "line" upstairs with the club owner and Tony says to me (my name is Tony too) "u WANNA line Tony?"

I politely declined

Not surprised when he died of a heart attack few months after/ saw it in the papers