Japan arrests yakuza boss suspected of illegally employing Vietnamese workers

Police arrested a Yamaguchi gang boss on charges of recruiting foreign workers, including Vietnamese, to work in Japan even though they were in the country illegally.

Japanese police announced on January 11 that they had arrested Kazuto Yamamoto, 58, who is suspected of bringing seven illegal foreign workers to work on dismantling a factory in Toyama from October 2022 to November 2023. Police said that among these workers were people from Indonesia and Vietnam who overstayed their residence permits.

Kazuto Yamamoto, also known as Eiji Sawano, is the boss of a branch of the Yamaguchi gang, Japan's largest yakuza organization. Ikiko Yamamoto, 61, a representative of a human resources company, was also arrested with the boss.

The Yakuza are Japanese criminal gangs that operate similarly to the mafia in the West. The number of yakuza members in Japan has recently declined due to government crackdowns.

Japanese police search a location in Toyama City. Photo: Abema News — Japanese police search a location in Toyama City. Photo: *Abema News*

Seven illegal workers were also arrested on charges of illegal stay since August 2023. Their identities have not been released.

Japanese police believe that profits from the demolition work would have gone to the finances of the gang run by Yamamoto. Police searched dozens of locations and seized many books and bank cards.

Police are expanding their investigation, warning that more foreigners working illegally may be discovered.

Duc Trung (According to Asahi, KBN )

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