Japanese Scam Operation Busted: Phnom Penh Deports 25 Suspects, Exposes Yakuza Expansion in Southeast Asia

 Phnom Penh, Cambodia, witnessed the deportation of 25 Japanese nationals suspected of involvement in an online scam operation. The suspects were detained in September after Cambodian police received information from their Japanese counterparts. The Japanese government arranged a charter flight to transport the suspects back to Japan. According to General Keo Vanthan, a spokesperson for the immigration police, the suspects were arrested in the capital city.

Japan's involvement in online scam operations is becoming increasingly concerning, with criminal networks setting up compounds in countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar. While most scams have targeted Chinese victims, experts have warned of the growing involvement of Japan's yakuza mobsters. These criminal organizations have become multibillion-dollar entities, engaging in various illegal activities such as gambling, drugs, prostitution, loan sharking, protection rackets, and white-collar crime. The yakuza's interest in Southeast Asia, particularly the Mekong region, has grown in recent years.

The region's weak law enforcement and opportunities for conducting business have made it attractive for the yakuza and other crime groups in East Asia. However, efforts to combat their activities have been on the rise, with the arrest of a retired Japanese crime boss in Thailand in 2018. The increasing presence of the yakuza highlights the need for stronger international cooperation in dealing with cross-border cybercrime and organized crime networks in the region.