Japan Police Launch Special Teams to Combat 'Tokuryu' Ad Hoc Crime Groups

Introduction to New Police Measures

On October 1, 2025, Japanese police initiated a significant escalation in their efforts against emerging criminal networks known as 'tokuryu' groups. Both the National Police Agency (NPA) and Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) launched specialized teams designed to combat these ad hoc organizations, whose members are often anonymous and recruited through social media for illicit activities such as fraud and robbery. The move comes as authorities recognize the growing threat these groups pose to public safety.

Understanding 'Tokuryu' Crime Groups

The term 'tokuryu' (匿流) is a portmanteau of the Japanese words 'tokumei' (anonymous) and 'ryūdo' (fluid), reflecting their lack of clear organizational structure and flexible operations. Unlike traditional yakuza syndicates, tokuryu groups are less hierarchical, with members often not knowing each other or those directing their activities. Recruitment predominantly occurs online through social media and encrypted messaging apps, often luring individuals, including young people, with promises of high earnings through what are known as 'yami-baito' or 'shady casual work.' The National Police Agency officially designated tokuryu as distinct criminal groups in July 2023, acknowledging they do not fit traditional classifications.

These groups engage in a wide array of criminal activities, including:

• Special fraud schemes, often targeting vulnerable populations like the elderly
• Robberies and thefts, such as the high-profile Ginza watch shop heist in May 2023
• Cybercrimes and social media-based scams
• Drug trafficking
• Cable theft and exploitative host clubs

The Escalating Threat and Challenges

The rise of tokuryu groups has been marked by a significant increase in related crimes. Between September 2021 and February 2023, over 10,000 people arrested were classified as tokuryu. Last year alone, more than 10,000 individuals were arrested for tokuryu-linked offenses. Provisional figures for January to June 2025 indicate 13,213 special fraud cases linked to these groups, resulting in financial damages totaling approximately ¥59.7 billion, a 2.6-fold increase from the same period last year.

A major challenge for law enforcement is the difficulty in identifying the masterminds and ringleaders, who often remain anonymous and use encrypted communication apps like Signal or Telegram. These apps allow messages to be automatically deleted, making investigations time-consuming and complex. Former Commissioner-General of the NPA, Yasuhiro Tsuyuki, noted that conventional crackdown methods, effective against yakuza, are less suited for tokuryu due to their fluid structure and digital recruitment.

Comprehensive Police Countermeasures

In response to this evolving threat, the police have implemented several strategic measures:

• The NPA established a new information analysis office to serve as a command center. This office will gather and analyze information from police departments nationwide, with consideration for using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to identify key figures and map complex connections within these groups.
• Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department set up a special headquarters for tokuryu investigations, headed by the deputy superintendent-general. This 140-strong team will focus on strategy planning and will be augmented by an additional 200 officers from prefectural police departments by spring.
• The MPD also reorganized its criminal probe and organized crime control bureaus, forming a 450-member special investigative division dedicated to fraud and other tokuryu crimes.

NPA Commissioner-General Yoshinobu Kusunoki emphasized the critical nature of these efforts, stating, 'Whether our countermeasures prove successful will have a significant impact on the country's public safety. We are at a crucial stage.' He added, 'We must find out core group members, arrest them in an intensive and strategic manner and break down their illegal business models.' The police also plan to reinforce partnerships with foreign authorities to uncover overseas operational bases and dispatch Japanese investigators abroad when necessary.