Gang-affiliated individuals who were believed to have been the effective owners of an illegal casino in Tokyo’s Kabukicho that was raided in October have been arrested.
The three arrested include a member of the Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi, 39-year old Masayuki Miwa. He is alleged to have operated an illegal casino operation offering baccarat in a multi-tenant building in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo between March and October of this year.
The operation continued despite the declaration of a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and by the time it had come onto the radar of the Metropolitan Police Department had earned takings of approximately JPY50 million (US$480,000). Miwa is suspected to have been the effective manager but has denied the allegations.
Illegal gambling operations are discovered frequently in Kabukicho. It is also a fairly common sight to see male recruiters on the street calling out to potential customers that they offer gambling.
It is possible that customers were not only recruited in this way on the street but also by word of mouth for a venue operated in secret, of which most proceeds would go to fund organized crime.
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