Opium

An opium pipe from 1st century BCE Egypt

Opium is a dried latex from the seed capsules of the opium poppy plant Papaver somniferum. It is commonly used as a processed material to produce drugs such as heroin and synthetic opioids for medical use. It has also been mixed with tobacco for smoking. Its use as a recreational drug dates as far back as ancient Egypt.

History

China

Though initially introduced in China during the Tang dynasty, the use of opium was legal until it was banned by the Ming dynasty. In the 18th century, the Europeans sought to reintroduce the plant and recreational trade into China. The Far East Company from the United Kingdom led by Alan Jacob sought to smuggle large quantities of the plant into Macau despite it being labelled a contraband by the local authorities. To cover up this operation, Alan attempted to frame his rival, the Qing merchantwoman Lee Huiyin.

The British Assassin Edward Kenway, seeking to clear Lee's name, traced a wagon shipment to a secret warehouse, where the opium was being stored. After dispatching the guards, Edward retrieved the shipment of opium for Lee in order to concoct a plan to sabotage her rivals. Though Lee was not against selling the opium for her own benefits, Edward ultimately convinced her not to do so and subsequently staged a public raid on a Far East Company ship which was smuggling the opium into Macau, thus exposing the company's drug trafficking.

Although the Far East Company's ship and its cargo were subsequently detained by the Dutch Navy, both Lee and her business rival Master Sun planned to get their hands on the opium. Sun employed Shimazu clan ninja led by Shimazu Saito to attack the ship and steal the opium, but they failed in this endeavor as they were overwhelmed by Lee's workers and forced to retreat. However, Lee would not manage to steal the opium either, as both the ship and its cargo were ultimately destroyed by Edward with the help of his allies, John Young and Mustafa.

Opium remained a lucrative black market business in China into the 20th century. When Chiang Kai-shek embarked on his campaign to reunify the nation under the Kuomintang, he saw in the trade an enormous source of revenue for his military efforts. This was to the extent that, among other reasons, he valued partnership with Triads over an alliance with the Templars. In Shanghai, he struck a deal with the Green Gang's crime boss Du Yuesheng. In return for the syndicate's service, Chiang offered him a position in his government where he could use the guise of cracking down on the illicit trade to establish a monopoly from which both he and the government could profit.

Britain

In 1868, opium was used as one of the main ingredients in Starrick's Soothing Syrup, a concoction made by the Starrick Brewing Company as a means to control London's civilians through their addiction. Twenty years later, the infamous killer Jack the Ripper usurped control of the Assassin-affiliated gang called the Rooks and ordered them to commit a number of crimes including opium trafficking.

Gallery

A group of Far East Company employees smoking opium

Edward Kenway finding crates of opium

Madam Lee with an opium package

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (first appearance)
  • Jack the Ripper
• Assassin's Creed: Templars (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Origins (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage (mentioned only)