Yakuza may launder $6.1b a year through Australia

Yakuza may launder $6.1b a year through Australia

SYDNEY (AFP): The Japanese organized crime syndicate Yakuza could be laundering up to A$7.7 billion (US$6.1 billion) through Australia each year, the National Crime Authority said yesterday.

A secret National Crime Authority (NCA) report, extracts of which were published in the Australian Financial Review newspaper, warns there is likely to be "an increase in activity in Australia by members of boryokudan -- or Yakuza -- syndicates".

The report said the crime group had attempted to use a front company to take over one of Australia's premier casinos in 1991. The bid was detected and failed, it said.

The report alleged the Yakuza was active in prostitution, investment, sports and entertainment, tourism and drugs.

Following publication of the report, NCA chairman John Bradford downplayed the Yakuza threat but conceded Japanese crime groups could be laundering as much as $7.7 billion here every year.

"There is a lot of money that has come into Australia from Japan," he said. "The great majority of it has been legitimate money but there has certainly been an element of illegitimate money."

Bradford said he could not confirm the Yakuza had tried to buy the unnamed casino.

"I think it has been well known there has been some Yakuza activity in Australia, even in my own electorate of the Gold Coast," he said.

The Gold Coast, in the state of Queensland, is a popular destination for Japanese tourists.

"It is well known that Yakuza operatives have visited and possibly that even some of the investments on the Gold Coast have been by virtue of Yakuza money."

He said there were problems in limiting the infiltration of Japanese crime syndicates, because although much Japanese money in Australia had come in legitimately, there was "the possibility that some of it has not been legitimately gained".

"But you can't turn the tap off. Nor can we stop Japanese tourists coming here and some Yakuza operatives have come here as tourists."

In Japan, the Yakuza are believed to boast about 90,000 members, many of whom are recognizable by being heavily tattooed.