TOKYO: Japanese Police have taken into custody five Vietnamese nationals for allegedly abetting 30 people to illegally enter the country, Vietnam News Agency reported.
Among the arrestees was a 49-year-old kingpin, who has lived in Japan since 2000 and has a permanent residence status, according to the report. The full name of this person has not been disclosed.
Initial information showed that the group had allegedly brought the people into Japan by fraudulently claiming to authorities that that these people were relatives of permanent residents in Japan.
The scheme brought them more than 100 million yen (US$840,000).
Two of the illegal immigrants reportedly told police that they paid the kingpin 4 million yen ($33,500).
The suspect denied all the allegations, the news agency reported.