Jake Adelstein, an American investigative journalist best known for his book Tokyo Vice, noted that Malaysia stands out as a country where Japanese mafia groups have failed to gain a foothold. Having spent over a decade covering the underworld in Japan as the first non-Japanese crime reporter at the Yomiuri Shimbun, Adelstein said he had never come across intelligence reports linking Malaysia with yakuza operations. He described the country as a rare example of how strong laws and consistent enforcement can shut organised crime out.
Malaysia enforces strict measures against gang activities, with penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for membership in criminal groups. Recruiting, harbouring, or profiting from such organisations is also criminalised. These laws, Adelstein explained, create an environment that discourages syndicates from attempting to establish themselves. In contrast, Laos and Cambodia remain vulnerable due to systemic corruption, weak governance, and low pay for public officials, making them fertile ground for illicit activities.
Interestingly, Adelstein observed that Singapore has, over the years, attracted Japanese crime groups despite its reputation for strict law enforcement. He argued that syndicates often seek financial and logistical advantages in hubs with high levels of global connectivity, even if the regulatory framework is tight.
At the same conference, retired senior commissioner Shigeru Yotoriyama from Japan’s National Police Agency explained that scam call centres targeting Japanese victims have proliferated in the region. He highlighted that Malaysia, while not immune, records fewer arrests of Japanese suspects compared to neighbours such as the Philippines and Cambodia. Factors that make other countries attractive include larger Japanese expatriate communities and higher levels of corruption, both of which provide easier access to resources and protection.
Yotoriyama also warned about tokuryū groups, loosely organised syndicates that often work alongside the yakuza. Operations such as the Philippines-based “Luffy” ring and the “JP Dragon” network illustrate how these groups launder money and conduct large-scale fraud across borders.
While Malaysia’s safeguards have limited yakuza infiltration, experts cautioned that emerging networks, including those led by non-Japanese actors using advanced technology, could still pose risks if vigilance weakens.
FlyingBird (aicashflow7@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.
