9 arrested over ties with fraud group based in Sierra Leone

KOBE–Hyogo prefectural police on July 1 arrested nine people over their suspected involvement in a fraud organization based in Sierra Leone that used scamming tactics commonly seen in Southeast Asia.

According to the organized crime control division of the prefectural police, the suspects, aged between 50 and 79, conspired with a criminal group based in the western Africa country, one of the poorest in the world.

One suspect, Hirobumi Kitaoka, a 61-year-old Yokohama resident who said he is a salesperson, is believed to have been a leader in the organization, sources said.

Japanese nationals in recent years have been arrested by local authorities in Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Myanmar, in connection with special fraud operations.

Hyogo prefectural police said it is highly unusual for Japanese nationals to be suspected of involvement in a fraud ring based in Africa.

“As crackdowns have intensified in Southeast Asia, it is possible that the suspects relocated their base,” an investigative source said.

In June 2025, the suspects, disguised as a Japanese public prosecutor and a prosecutor’s aide, made multiple phone calls to a 59-year-old woman in Sapporo, sources said

They told her that her bank account had been used for fraud, and that they had to examine her money to clear her of suspicions.

Through the process, they tricked her into transferring a total of 55 million yen ($338,410) in seven separate transactions via online banking to the designated accounts, the sources said.

The location data showed that the phone calls to the victim were made from Sierra Leone.

Based on smartphone data and other evidence seized from the suspects, police believe five of the nine suspects worked as overseas callers who directly contacted Japanese targets, while three were tasked with recruiting callers in Japan.

Police suspect Kitaoka was engaged in both roles as a leader.

RECRUITING CALLERS

Prefectural police began the investigation in May 2025 after receiving a report that “an acquaintance is being forced to engage in fraudulent activities overseas.”

The acquaintance turned out to be a woman who had been approached by Hisao Takahashi, 53, an unemployed resident of Yokohama’s Tsuzuki Ward, who is one of the nine suspects.

Takahashi allegedly told the woman: “There’s a job in Africa where you’ll call wealthy people in Japan and trick them out of money. Depending on your performance, you can earn at least 1 million yen.”

In May this year, prefectural police arrested four of the nine suspects, including Kitaoka and Takahashi, on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Law by introducing an occupation classified as “harmful.”

In June, the suspects were rearrested over a similar recruitment offer to a man in his 70s, who had reportedly traveled to Sierra Leone.

They have since been indicted on charges of violating the Employment Security Law.

The arrests on July 1 were related to the actual fraud operations.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Sierra Leone is classified by the United Nations as a Least Developed Country.

The nation has an area roughly one-fifth the size of Japan and an estimated population of about 8.64 million.

Although public security in Sierra Leone has become relatively stable in recent years, the Foreign Ministry continues to urge caution when visiting or staying in the country.

(This article was written by Kai Nemoto and Eri Niiya.)