The Japanese law enforcement has made its first arrests linked to illicit online gambling activities in the country, capturing two men believed to have played vital roles in aiding frequent wagering activities in offshore casinos by Japanese customers. Yoshiaki Maeda and Shinya Tokita, both 42, are under scrutiny for their alleged participation in these illegal operations.
The arrested individuals are suspected of working as go-betweens, facilitating the movement of money for 18 Japanese customers from July 2021 to July 2022, as reported by The Japanese Times. The accused apparently ran an internet payment service that they established around 2020 to transfer funds from Japan to three specific online gambling sites. This enabled the clients to subtly place bets through mobile devices while avoiding detection by the police.
It is estimated by the authorities that Maeda and Tokita handled payments amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, earning in excess of $14 million in commissions from these casinos before they ceased their operations in July 2022. As the investigation continues, the comprehensive customer data containing around 42,000 names has become an integral part of the probe.
It remains to be seen whether formal charges have been filed against the arrested duo. If found guilty under Japanese law, they could serve a jail term of up to five years.
Japan Embarks on a Resolute Fight Against Online Gambling With Enhanced Rewards and Reporting Methods
Capturing these settlement agents is indicative of Japan’s escalating actions to eradicate unlawful gambling in all manifestations. Despite pressure from some sectors for the authorization of online gambling, Japan maintains a rigid and uncompromising policy regarding such ventures, with very limited exceptions.
In addition, Japan is amplifying its stance against unauthorized online betting by enlarging its nationwide anonymous crime reporting strategy, set to activate on October 1. The rewards for anonymous criminal reports was also bolstered by Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA), with the current 100,000 yen ($680) slated to spike to 1 million yen ($6,800) from October 1, 2023.
The revised reward structure applies to those reporting offenses which contribute to the breakdown of illegal networks, involving unlawful gambling, narcotics, human trafficking, and prostitution. Over the previous year, more than 27,000 reports were made, inciting 45 arrests and reward payments totaling 530,000 yen ($3,600) – mostly in relation to drug-related matters. The NPA is keen on tackling diverse illegal activities, ranging from “dark jobs” such as burglaries and child prostitution, leveraging these tips, which can be submitted virtually or telephonically.
