TOKYO (TR) – A fight including “about 20 gang members” has led to the bust of an illegal gambling den operating in Minato Ward, police said on Tuesday, reports TBS News (Mar. 7).
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested Shoji Akita, the 42-year-old proprietor of Roppongi Tokyo, located in the Akasaka entertainment area, and 12 employees for providing customers with baccarat gaming in violation of the law. Two customers have also been charged.
According to police, the parlor opened on October 22, 2015. On an average day, customers purchased around 20 million yen in chips for wagering.
Police found a customer list that included 700 names. A security camera was installed at the front door to monitor persons entering the premises to prevent a bust by law enforcement. As well, customers were only granted access through an introduction by a regular patron.
In October of last year, police were alerted to the illegal operation after receiving a tip about “a fight between about 20 gang members” inside the premises. Officers arriving at the scene found the interior of the casino to be heavily damaged, including a baccarat table that had been smashed.
According to Fuji News Network (Mar. 7), police suspect that revenue from Roppongi Tokyo was being used to fund a gang group.
