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Saitama cops net yakuza boss in baseball gambling probe

The emblem of the Yamaguchi-gumi
The emblem of the Yamaguchi-gumi

SAITAMA (TR) – Prefectural police in three administrative districts, including Saitama, have arrested the boss of an organized crime group as a part of a crackdown on an illegal baseball gambling ring, reports the Saitama Shimbun (Feb. 17).

Between July 2 and September 11 of last year, Shin Furuya, a 48-year-old boss of the Teraya-ikka, a gang affiliated with Yamaguchi-gumi, and two others brokered 122 wagers on Nippon Professional Baseball and high school games. The bets, valued at 10,000 yen each, were submitted by telephone.

At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, police searched the headquarters of the Teraya-ikka, located in Gyoda City, in search of evidence connected to the case, according to the Mainichi Shimbun (Sept. 17).

Furuya refused to comment on the charges.

Since September of last year, police have arrested seven members of the ring, including another Yamaguchi-gumi boss, for allegedly running a gambling venture for profit. In many cases, wagers were placed on behalf of other parties and commissions collected.

Between 2010 and 2015, police believe the operation netted a total of 300 million yen in revenue. A total of 47 persons have been apprehended in the case.