Actions Target Senior Members of the Largest Syndicate
within the Japanese Yakuza Criminal Network
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today took
action against four senior members of the Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest and most
prominent Japanese Yakuza syndicate. Tadashi Irie, Hirofumi Hashimoto, Toshio
Masaki, and Shoroku Ishida were designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.)
13581, which targets significant transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and
their supporters. These efforts are
designed to protect the U.S. financial system from the malign influence of
transnational criminal organizations and expose the individuals who are
supporting or acting on behalf of the Yakuza.
“Today’s
action builds upon our efforts to undermine the financial stability of the
Yakuza and disrupt their transnational drug-trafficking and money laundering
efforts,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David
S. Cohen. “We will continue to target and
expose members of criminal organizations like these as we work to protect the
U.S. financial system from their illicit activity.”
President
Obama identified the Yakuza as a significant TCO in the Annex to E.O. 13581
(Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations) on July 24, 2011,
and charged the Treasury Department with pursuing additional sanctions against
its members and supporters to undermine and interdict their global criminal
operations. In order to conduct their
criminal activities, the Yakuza maintain a global criminal network of
affiliates in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
In the U.S., the Yakuza have been involved in drug trafficking and money
laundering. To date, the Treasury
Department has designated ten Yakuza members along with the top three largest
Yakuza groups, the Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, and the Inagawa-kai.
The
Yamaguchi-gumi is involved in criminal endeavors in Japan and abroad, including
drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, prostitution, fraud and money
laundering, and Treasury is targeting its members today for acting for or on
behalf of the Yakuza.
Tadashi
Irie is the third-in-command of the Yamaguchi-gumi, following Godfather Kenichi
Shinoda and Deputy Godfather Kiyoshi Takayama, whom Treasury designated on
February 23, 2012. Irie is a salient figure in the Yamaguchi-gumi known for
playing a key role in the syndicate’s management alongside Takayama during the
incarceration of the clan’s Godfather between 2005 and 2011. With Takayama
being sentenced to six years in prison in March 2013, Irie is expected to once
again assume greater responsibility for the syndicate. Irie also serves as
President of a large subsidiary gang of the Yamaguchi-gumi called the
Takumi-gumi.
Hirofumi
Hashimoto is the fourth-in-command of the Yamaguchi-gumi, serving in the
position of Supervisory Commission Chief. Hashimoto also heads the
Kyokushin-Rengo-kai, a subsidiary gang of the Yamaguchi-gumi and is known for
his financial acumen.
Toshio
Masaki is the regional leader of Yamaguchi-gumi clans in the Chūbu region in
central Japan and oversees approximately 6,780 Yamaguchi-gumi members. Masaki
also serves as President of the Masaki-gumi, a subsidiary gang of the
Yamaguchi-gumi.
Shoroku
Ishida holds the position of Advisor in the Yamaguchi-gumi and serves as
President of the Shoyu-kai, a subsidiary gang of the Yamaguchi-gumi based in
Northern Osaka.
As
a result of today’s designation, any assets these individuals may have under
U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from
doing business with them.
For a chart relating to today’s actions click here.
Identifying Information
Individual: IRIE, Tadashi
DOB: December 9, 1944
POB: Uwajima, Ehime, Japan
Individual: HASHIMOTO, Hirofumi
AKA: KYO, Hirofumi
AKA: KANG, Hong-Mun
Date
of Birth: January 8, 1947
Individual: MASAKI, Toshio
AKA: PARK, Nyon-Nam
DOB: January 13, 1947
Individual: ISHIDA, Shoroku
AKA: PARK, Tae-joon
AKA: BOKU, Taishun
AKA: PAK, Tae-Chun
DOB: October 30, 1932
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