Overview
- Investigators in Saitama arrested five suspects, including Japanese and Chinese nationals, on fraud and organized crime charges tied to a Kawagoe case where a man in his 70s was duped into buying 27 gold bars worth about ¥46.1 million.
- The gold was traced to Tokyo buyback shops and then to processing firms, and police are examining whether two detained company executives directed the operation.
- Authorities are probing possible links to the anonymous, fluid network known as 'Tokuryu' and estimate the group’s total victim losses may reach around ¥400 million.
- In a separate case, a Metropolitan Police assistant inspector was arrested on suspicion of leaking images showing how sites linked to the illegal scout group 'Natural' appeared on surveillance cameras, allegedly sent via the group’s app in April–May.
- Police searched the officer’s home and seized cash, reported by Asahi as ¥9 million, and both investigations remain active as data show at least 21 gold-bar fraud cases totaling about ¥900 million in 2024 and a major Sendai case of roughly ¥348 million this year.