Yakuza may launder $6.1b a year through Australia<\/p>\n
SYDNEY (AFP): The Japanese organized crime syndicate Yakuza
\ncould be laundering up to A$7.7 billion (US$6.1 billion) through
\nAustralia each year, the National Crime Authority said yesterday.<\/p>\n
A secret National Crime Authority (NCA) report, extracts of
\nwhich were published in the Australian Financial Review
\nnewspaper, warns there is likely to be "an increase in activity
\nin Australia by members of boryokudan -- or Yakuza --
\nsyndicates".<\/p>\n
The report said the crime group had attempted to use a front
\ncompany to take over one of Australia's premier casinos in 1991.
\nThe bid was detected and failed, it said.<\/p>\n
The report alleged the Yakuza was active in prostitution,
\ninvestment, sports and entertainment, tourism and drugs.<\/p>\n
Following publication of the report, NCA chairman John
\nBradford downplayed the Yakuza threat but conceded Japanese crime
\ngroups could be laundering as much as $7.7 billion here every
\nyear.<\/p>\n
"There is a lot of money that has come into Australia from
\nJapan," he said. "The great majority of it has been legitimate
\nmoney but there has certainly been an element of illegitimate
\nmoney."<\/p>\n
Bradford said he could not confirm the Yakuza had tried to buy
\nthe unnamed casino.<\/p>\n
"I think it has been well known there has been some Yakuza
\nactivity in Australia, even in my own electorate of the Gold
\nCoast," he said.<\/p>\n
The Gold Coast, in the state of Queensland, is a popular
\ndestination for Japanese tourists.<\/p>\n
"It is well known that Yakuza operatives have visited and
\npossibly that even some of the investments on the Gold Coast have
\nbeen by virtue of Yakuza money."<\/p>\n
He said there were problems in limiting the infiltration of
\nJapanese crime syndicates, because although much Japanese money
\nin Australia had come in legitimately, there was "the possibility
\nthat some of it has not been legitimately gained".<\/p>\n
"But you can't turn the tap off. Nor can we stop Japanese
\ntourists coming here and some Yakuza operatives have come here as
\ntourists."<\/p>\n
In Japan, the Yakuza are believed to boast about 90,000
\nmembers, many of whom are recognizable by being heavily tattooed.<\/p>",
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