Leader Of Yakuza Syndicate In Kyushu Arrested Over 1998 Murder

KITAKYUSHU, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 11: In this aerial image, a police car (C) carrying Kudo-kai leader Satoru Nomura arrives at Kokura Kita Police Station on September 11, 2014 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. Police arrested the leader of an organization described as "the most violent yakuza syndicate" in connection with the 1998 murder of a former fishery cooperative chief. Satoru Nomura, 67, head of the Kudo-kai, is suspected of conspiring with two men who have already been convicted of murdering Kunihiro Kajiwara. Police also obtained an arrest warrant for the Kudo-kai's No. 2 man, Fumio Tanoue, 58, on suspicion of murder and other charges related to the 1998 slaying. In July this year, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of the Kudo-kai and its two top executives, Nomura and Tanoue. The Treasury Department also described yakuza in Japan as "reputedly the world's largest criminal organization with close to 60,000 members. Kudo-kai is reportedly the most violent yakuza syndicate." (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)