U.S. administration starts new push on criminal cartels, including yakuza

U.S. administration starts new push on criminal cartels, including yakuza

Japan’s Yakuza, portrayed in numerous gangland films, has an estimated 80,000 members, officials said. Its narcotics and criminal enterprises are hidden by investments in construction, real estate, finance and other legal businesses

So the U.S. is going to do what the Japanese government refuses to. Talk about an insult to Japan and its "law enforcement" people. But about time someone recognized the yakuza for what they are, and had the guts to do something about it. Just another example of Japan's willingness to ignore problems/pretend they don't exist, rather than actually solve them. Now the whole world knows Japan's yaks are in the same class as the Mexican drug cartels, and the Russina mob. Way to go.

the Americans should focus on the Mexican drug cartels first. the yakuza don't have small armies terrorizing and controlling entire towns like they do.

Never too late...go ahead.

the yakuza don't have small armies terrorizing and controlling entire towns like they do

No, they just have 80,000 members running drugs and taking a cut of almost everything that gets done here in Japan -- including annual stock holders meetings, where companies pay them to keep down any negative discussion. They are a cancer that has spread into almost every part of Japan, and should be treated as such. Unless, of course, you like paying higher prices for everything so they yaks can get their share.

And who says the Yakuza have ONLY a domestic effect on Japan. Last time I checked, Japan was still the third largest world economy that depends a large part on int'l trade. Extortion can drive up export prices also. Think they're not interested in things like drugs, sexual slavery, product piracy, etc. outside of Japan? Think again.

Wonder if they will have the gonads for going after the Triads?

Noticed they are never mentioned when talking about Crime cartels.

I hope Obama will add the United States Congress to his list. They're criminally incompetent and a much bigger threat than organized crime.

I hope they reduce the power of these idiots, at least a little. They are so intrenched that they have their own version of Japanese. The police know who is a member and do nothing about it, It's an other national shame... Low admittedly on Japan's long list of shame.

Well, a war directly on criminal orgs rather than a war on drugs certainly sounds better to me. But it would be foolish to think this could not blow up in our faces as well. I hope those who pick up the gauntlet are fit for the challenge, and will be more insightful and intelligent than the fools who ran the drug war. At least the focus is in the right direction.

Los Zetas trained on US military bases, is funded by the CIA, and had the ATF run guns down to Mexico for them.

The biggest criminal cartel is the Federal Reserve system and all their financial terrorist bank owners (JP Morgan/Chase, CitiGroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo+) that offshore (steal) the populaces money and pay little to no taxes.

$16 Trillion (Fed Audit) was taken from the American Populace and given to the financial terrorists. With little going to the American people.

It is absolutely disgusting to see the Libs support these financial terrorists/Globalists while people are literally starving and/or losing monetary value thru inflation or stealing (offshoring, derivatives, blatant theft). The IMF takeovers of sovereign nations is also a concern.

Bad enough to be completely off topic, but do you have to blame everything on "the libs"? You realize you sound like Hitler blaming it all on the Jews don't you? Besides being off topic, you were doing well up to then, then you just isolated half your readers and not even because some of them are liberals but because you are pointing at shadows.

The Japanese police wont like this... they tell the Yak's whenever they are going raid them... the police are protecting them

Actually, I'm quite interested in what they are planning to do. I'm really curious to see how they can fight all these groups which are basically based in different countries.

“Transnational”, because "international" just isn't good enough.

jonobugs : They connect the dots with the international movement of money and money laundering and pressure US and world financial institutions to confiscate funds or decline doing business with them.

Just imagine how much better & cheaper Japan wud be without organized crime!

Good luck though because business & politics are all in the same bed as the yakuza, to go after the yakuza then Japan Inc & politicians/beaurocrates would have to investigate & jail themselves in many cases

Well, a war directly on criminal orgs rather than a war on drugs certainly sounds better to me. But it would be foolish to think this could not blow up in our faces as well.

Like using this law against people organizing to change laws or protests by calling them cartels. Already laws made for wars on incorporeal entities (drugs, terror, poverty) have invded everyday life.

Like using this law against people organizing to change laws or protests by calling them cartels.

Thank you. That was exactly the type of example that I should have posted myself. Thank you for filling in that blank.

This is really laughable!-These incompetents Can't even control the borders yet they belive this Bull,er Bill will make any difference in organized crime?? and Mr. Obama,Just how Much More $$$$ will be squandered on this one??

Cricky, ur wrong. I personally know a j guy who was working with the yaks. He ratted them out, 2 bosses got arrested and hes on the run now, and getting out of the country!

Bart : Why is this laughable? I don' t think this program will cost much and the potential return is worth the effort. North Korea's ability to traffic weapons and drugs was severely affected by pressuring banks in southeast asia to close and or freeze their accounts. Dear Leader was really pissed off.

Good news! I was being general as you have to be on a web site. I applaud anyone who makes a stand. These goons are usually above the law.

herefornow: "So the U.S. is going to do what the Japanese government refuses to. Talk about an insult to Japan and its "law enforcement" people."

Look on the brightside -- this is usually the kind of thing it takes for Japan to get its butt in gear, and maybe it finally will. Or, if Japan refuses to cooperate on this they fall into the category of sanctions for 'protecting' them.

i think identifying them - not so difficult actually - then freezing their assets won`t cost that much. i, for one, would love to see this happen. then maybe we could have nice things.

Why do people call the Yakuza the Yaks? Seems strange as clearly it is not their organisations name. And having friends of friends who are Yakuza does nothing to boost your credibility or knowledge of them.

P.S. Next time you do meet a member, I suggest you call them Yakuza-san.

P.P.S. What on Earth do they have to do with America? Nothing. Aside from post-WW2.

Interesting to know they mentioned Yakuza second in this article, what happened to the Chinese Triad, Irish mob and others not being outlined?

America needs to take care of its border towns with Mexico first, before continuing to stick its fingers in more pies! Afghanistan, Iraq and now the gangs of Japan?

First of all, I fail to see just how the Yakuza are a threat to America!

There are yakuza in my town, and some of them are friendly enough. I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of them of course, but they do contribute to the social pragmatics of the town and area, albeit to turn a profit, but without them, half the jobs wouldn't exist!

Japan’s Yakuza, portrayed in numerous gangland films, has an estimated 80,000 members, officials said. Its narcotics and criminal enterprises are hidden by investments in construction, real estate, finance and other legal businesses.

A criminal organization consisting of about 80,000 members. Are there even enough police in Japan to ARREST that many?! Not that America's actions will directly lead to arrests in Japan. Freezing funds and drying-up U.S. avenues for money laundering are about all the U.S. is planning to do for now.

bookowls - How are they a threat to America? read paulinusa's first post again. The last line pretty much sums it up, they're a threat to all countries, just the same as Mexico's cartels, and Italy's, and Ireland's and China's, etc.

GW - "Just imagine how much better & cheaper Japan wud be without organized crime!"

Wouldn't all countires benefit without organized crime.... Problem is trying to reduce it. These organizations just regenerate, you cut off the "arm", "leg", even the "head", and a new one just grows into it's place. So it's that much more difficult to destroy; not impossible, just extremely difficult.

Why do people call the Yakuza the Yaks?

P.S. Next time you do meet a member, I suggest you call them Yakuza-san.

Firey -- You're kidding right? They're called Yaks because they are criminals and low-life scum who do not deserve to be given legitimacy or respect. And if you want to defer to them by calling them Yakuza-san, then I would suggest that you have become as gutless as the Japanese police.

I feel this is not a fight against criminal cartels, it is a massive money grab by the US government. They wont arrest anyone or make it safer for citizens, just look for money. At least in Japan, the yakuza keep the streets reasonably safe. Do yo really think women can walk around on their own at 3 in the morning in Compton or The suburbs of Paris?

Herefornow,

Gutless? Lol, you amuse me.

If you can't call them names to their faces, you had better not call them anything at all.

Wonder if the U.S. Administration has included the LDP and DJP as criminal Cartels - they should have !

I feel this is not a fight against criminal cartels, it is a massive money grab by the US government. They wont arrest anyone or make it safer for citizens, just look for money. At least in Japan, the yakuza keep the streets reasonably safe. Do yo really think women can walk around on their own at 3 in the morning in Compton or The suburbs of Paris?

Wow, so you feel that all of Japan is just like a neighborhood rife with gang warfare, and only the Yaks are able to keep the peace?! For every neighborhood in the world you can name with a reputation for violence, I can name 100 where it is perfectly safe for a woman to walk around at 3 am - and the Yaks have nothing to do with the reason.

The reason the U.S. won't arrest anyone is because it hurts an illegal organization more to have access to their funds curtailed than to arrest individuals. Add to that the issue that Japan just MIGHT be a little miffed if the FBI flew in and started arresting Yakuza on Japanese soil.

herefornow, just what exactly do you think the US is planning to do here, fly in wearing their captain american costumes and save the poor japanese? clean up this nation once and for all? its just so much worse off than the yanks are isnt it, or so you might think. and just because the yanks have taken this 'initiative', all of a sudden as you say "now the whole world know the yakuza are in the same class as the Mex cartels and the Russian mob." what exactly is your point? read the whole article, not just the title, please.

we dont need american help here. they can barely take care of themselves. besides they are only going to deal with a situation if it directly affects their own interests.

Hey this is a step in the right direction. Sure, we can not compare the Japanese Yakuzas to the Mexican cartels, but in the end, both are evil, both are violent, both are out there to kill, steal, do no good, the problem in Japan is, it is still a very closed racist country and it is easier for NHK etc..to focus on some poor Iranian or African, Chinese etc..selling drugs in Roppongi when we all know these are just the small fish, they real big fish are THE NATIVE JAPANESE MAFIA A.K.A. the YAKUZA.

Just had another thought, if we think that the Japanese YAKUZA are only alive and well here in Japan??? Big mistake! Just go to Hawaii, the Philippines any Japan Town across the USA etc..sadly enough these parasites are their too! But they prey on their own kind, the Japanese mafia takes money $$$$ from their fellow Japanese who are working hard night and day in sushi restaurants etc..my favorite sushi bar in Santa Barbara was being threatened by the Japanese yakuza one day, read it in our small town newspaper, and AZUMA, name of the sushi bar said, NO WAY, we will not pay any so called protection money to the yakuza, next day, the restaurant WAS BURNT TO THE GROUND!!!

New Law: certain incense now fall under the same law as marry jane. Do your own research. Also the new yaksoba law has claues that focus on unwanted foreigners whom a percentage of society dont like and have many meetings over years to justify there eventual demiss. before calling out the hunters on them. All around shake up but most of this info is not for everyone just the groonies whom say yes because they dont want to be indifferent. Most things can be heard while riding on the train lines as people are confident that they can talk about whatever without fear of an danger because the authorities has a strong presence in the mass transportation system. Yea! I know I can`t spell :)