“The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today took action against the Kodo-kai, a major second-tier affiliate of the Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest and most prominent Japanese Yakuza syndicate,” the US Treasury said.
The sanctions freeze all US-based assets belonging to the 4,000 member Kodo-kai and prohibit United States persons or entities from dealing with the organization and its chairman, Teruaki Takeuchi.
The Kodo-kai is believed by the authorities to be the most violent faction within the Yamaguchi-gumi. Japanese law enforcement agencies have prioritized weakening the organization and its parent syndicate.
Previous US Treasury actions have targeted various factions of the Yazuka crime syndicate, which operates in Japan, elsewhere in Asia as well as in Europe.
The Yazuka crime syndicate is the largest in the world, engaging in bribery, extortion, financial fraud, the sex trade and other illicit activities.
