Archaeologist Robert Burns (Steven Seagal) has unearthed some priceless artifacts in eastern China. When he discovers that the Chinese mafia--the Tong--are using them as containers to smuggle drugs overseas, Burns is marked for death. The Tong frame him for the murder of his assistant and he is thrown in a Chinese prison--but when he is released and used as bait in a joint effort by the Chinese and American governments to attract the Tong, Burns has his chance at vengeance.