Officers arrested Shinji Tahara, a 38-year-old member of an affiliate group of the Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group, and three other suspects on charges of gaining profit by operating a gambling establishment in Minamiuwa.
Over a 10-day period between May and June, the suspects allegedly took 1,000-yen bets on the winner and runner-up of the month-long soccer tournament held in Brazil.
Tahara has reportedly refused to comment on the allegations.
On Monday, officers searched a gang’s headquarters and a number of other locations and seized betting forms.
