Overview of the Simultaneous Crackdown
On June 12, 2024, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the Aichi Prefectural Police conducted simultaneous searches of two foreign prostitution groups. In Tokyo, a Chinese-affiliated group (six Chinese nationals, male and female, arrested) and in Aichi, a Vietnamese-affiliated group (seven Vietnamese nationals, male and female, arrested) were arrested on suspicion of violating the Anti-Prostitution Act (baishun boshi-ho) (organized/managed prostitution), violating the Immigration Control Act (promotion of illegal employment), and human trafficking, among other offenses.
The Groups' Methods
The Chinese-affiliated group advertised "high-paying work in Japan" on Chinese-language social media and lured women in cooperation with sending agents inside China. The Vietnamese-affiliated group exploited the Technical Intern Training route, using a manufacturing-sector training site as a nominal host.
Investigation into Links with International Crime Networks
For both groups, links to crime organizations in their home countries are suspected, and an investigation is under way that also envisions joint international cooperation through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
This article was compiled based on publicly available information.