A police white paper on organized crime for 2015 says that the number of individuals with ties to yakuza gangs has fallen to its lowest since 1992.
According to the report released by the National Police Agency, although the overall number of persons with affiliations to organized crime has dropped to about 53,500 from 86,300 in 2005, crime syndicates have become more diversified in their illegal activities, Fuji TV reported.
As an example, the report said that of suspects arrested for monetary fraud during 2014, 35% of them had yakuza connections, indicating that crime syndicates are getting more funds from such activities than they used to.
Moreover, the report also revealed that an increased number of illegal laborers have been dispatched by yakuza groups to work in the disaster-hit Tohoku region.
The report warns that law enforcement authorities must step up efforts to prevent yakuza gangs tapping into the construction boom ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
© Japan Today
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Wc626
Having become more diversified in their illegal activities, as the article states, they'll find some ways to skim off the 2020 games. Construction boom? They'll a slice of that pie, thought they wouldn't?
Aly Rustom
translation: they want the police to harrass us more
gogogo
What are you talking about? They have already been selected and are building most of it, just like the "clean up" crews of Fukushima.
Everyone is aware of the problem, nothing is done. Weak Japan, weak.
sighclops
Oh yeah like that's going to happen! Already rubbing their hands with glee! The Yakuza are in EVERY facet of corporate Japan. Anything that makes money here, you can all but guarantee the trail leads to some branch of the Yakuza. They run this country, always have & always will. This dates back hundreds of years...
Magnus Roe
That is a gross exaggeration. You can perfectly well run almost any kind of business to considerable heights without ever noticing them. At least in core Kanto.
toshiko
They probably moved to own IT related crimes. People who hate to work under rules and coporation type hai hai environment, I'd bet they switched to own IT crime business.
John-San
Of course the numbers would be down. They are all pulling a honest wage in Fukushima
Magnus Roe
Probably because they have jumped over to foreign gangs?
Scrote
When the minister in charge has gangster connections this isn't going to happen.
turbotsat
Best way to get a white paper issued indicating "decrease in organized crime syndicate numbers".