TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 32-year-old yakuza-affiliated crime ring leader and a 27-year-old actress after cocaine was discovered during a raid on a hotel room in the capital, reports Nippon News Network (Aug. 25).
Shota Sugawara, an executive of a gang affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi syndicate, and Seika Abe, an actress who performs under the stage name “Serina Shin,” were arrested on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Law for the possession and use of illegal drugs.
At around 2:00 a.m. on July 14, investigators raided a hotel room in Toshima Ward to apprehend Sugawara on separate fraud charges after tracking his frequent visits to the establishment. Upon entering, officers found Sugawara and Abe together on a bed.
A subsequent search of the room turned up approximately 0.7 grams of cocaine hidden inside the bedsheets and on a nearby bedside shelf.
Sugawara is believed to be the head of a tokuryu syndicate, whose members communicate anonymously via social media. He had already been arrested on suspicion of fraud and preparing to commit a robbery prior to the drug bust.
During police questioning, Sugawara admitted to using the drugs, telling investigators, “There is no mistake.” However, Abe has denied the allegations, claiming, “I did not use it.”
The two are described as acquaintances who met repeatedly at the hotel. Police suspect that Sugawara had been using illicit funds obtained through tokushu sagi (specialized fraud) schemes to purchase illegal drugs for their frequent hotel rendezvous.
