Extended Crackdown on Foreigners by Police Yields Japanese Yakuza Boss

Anai Kenichi, head of the second largest of Japanese crime syndicate, was arrested in his room in a Silom Soi 7 apartment after Japanese police coordinated with Thai authorities, said Lt-Gen Wuthi Liptapallop, Thai Immigration Police Commissioner.

Mr. Anai was wanted for killing Watanabe Nobuhiro, a rival Inagawa gang member, on July 5, 2009 after his group members were attacked and kidnapped, Gen Wuthi said.

Japanese mobster anai Kenichi listens to court proceedings.

The Japanese national was charged with murder and illegal possession of a frearm. He escaped to Thailand on October 9, 2009 and changed his name to Senta Zato.

Gen Wuthi said Mr. Anai was charged with overstaying his visa. The Thai police will coordinate with the Japanese Embassy in Thailand for his extradition.

In a related issue, Gen Wuthi said that the Immigration Bureau will set up operations centres to track and apprehend transnational criminals and to compile data of the criminals who were issued arrest warrants by both Thai and foreign courts systemically.