Scale of the Operation
Under coordination by the National Police Agency, police in 11 prefectures carried out simultaneous searches on September 11, 2024, targeting the illegal sex-industry network "Group XX" (a provisional name used by investigators). They searched 62 locations nationwide at once and arrested a total of 42 people, ranging from the network's leaders to its lowest-level operatives, on a variety of charges.
Structure of the Network
The network operated on a "franchise" model, in which a central controlling organization provided local "member shops" with customer-acquisition systems, scouting know-how, and fund-management services in exchange for kickbacks. This structure made it difficult for lower-level operatives to see the overall picture of the organization.
Total revenue since 2020 is believed to exceed at least 2 billion yen, part of which is suspected to have been laundered through overseas accounts and real estate investments.
Features of the Investigation
The operation made aggressive use of the Act on Punishment of Organized Crime (covering the confiscation and collection of criminal proceeds), with accounts frozen and real estate provisionally seized at the same time. Authorities emphasized an approach grounded in economic deterrence, aiming to "make crime not pay."
This article was compiled based on publicly available information and interviews with people involved in the investigation.