'The Shanghai Tunnels' in Portland, Oregon, USA were reportedly used by laborers, immigrants, and others for illegal trade in human trafficking. The city of Portland is now famous for (1) rainy days and (2) for being one of the U.S. west coast’s most important cities with a major seaport. In 2012, 'USA Today' named Portland as one of the top ten cities in America with a very active and well-run seaport.

Since the 1920s, certain locations in Portland, OR have been called scary spots, especially 'The Shanghai Tunnels'. These underground tunnels, located in Chinatown/Old Town, were used during U.S. Prohibition as secret spots to drink booze and conduct questionable criminal activities. The tunnels were said to have been greatly used to support the illegal practice of forcibly supplying (shanghaiing) crews for sailing ships leaving the Portland harbors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Today, people who visit this city are told that they must see the various passages that run beneath the streets of Northwest Portland. These are the passages that were used to handily smuggle people, sailors, and goods onto ships in the port, where the goods were quickly sold. A very large number of the goods being human beings who ended up in slavery or forced labor.

More Info: oregonencyclopedia.org