“Cheaper Than Anywhere Else”: Selling Stimulants… The “Skill” and “Reputation” of a Former “Kohei-ikka” Gang Member Who Was Arrested

A former gang member who was arrested

Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on July 31, Kiyofumi Amaha (60), a former member of the “Kohei Ikka”—a secondary group affiliated with the designated organized crime group Sumiyoshi-kai—emerged from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Hikarigaoka Police Station.He was dressed in a black long-sleeved T-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was brown, and he had his glasses perched on his chest like sunglasses.

He walked with a swagger, a frown etched between his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth turned down in a sour expression as he boarded the police van. Perhaps he was deeply dissatisfied with his arrest—

Suspect Amaha was arrested on July 29 on suspicion of violating the Stimulant Drugs Control Act (transfer for profit).

“He is suspected of selling approximately 10 grams of stimulants for 150,000 yen to a man in his 50s from Yamanashi Prefecture in front of a commercial facility near his home in Kitamachi, Nerima Ward. It is reported that the Hikarigaoka Police Station arrested this man in May, and his statement naming Suspect Amaha as his supplier led to Amaha’s arrest.

Suspect Amaha, known in those circles as “Uncle Amaha,” was recognized as a dealer who sold stimulants below market price. He reportedly handed over the drugs to customers who had transferred the payment to him in front of family restaurants or health spas near his home.

During questioning, Amaha denied the charges, stating, “I did not commit this crime, and I will remain silent. Since I didn’t do it, I won’t sign anything or provide a thumbprint.” However, police believe he may be involved in other crimes and are continuing their investigation,” said a reporter from the crime desk of a national newspaper.

Crackdowns on amphetamine cases linked to the Kohei-ikka continue.On April 15, a 30-year-old male member of a subordinate organization was arrested for violating the Stimulant Control Act (importation for profit). He was suspected of smuggling approximately 5 kg of stimulants (equivalent to 270 million yen at street value) from the United States via international courier to a residence in Nerima Ward, Tokyo.

Additionally, on May 12, a 34-year-old man affiliated with the Kohei-ikka was re-arrested on suspicion of selling cocaine to multiple customers on the streets of Shinjuku and Minato wards, as well as possessing illegal drugs—including stimulants and cocaine—worth approximately 45 million yen in an apartment in Shinjuku.

This man formed a drug-trafficking ring in ’23. He recruited dealers through “underground job sites” and operated in Tokyo, where he is believed to have generated tens of millions of yen in sales. This was the sixth time he had been arrested in connection with this series of investigations.

Has the police landed a major lead!?

Could the series of raids be linked to the arrest of suspect Amaha? We asked underworld journalist Yukio Ishihara.

“Suspect Amaha used to belong to a gang in Itabashi affiliated with the Kohei-ikka faction, but it seems he didn’t get along with the new boss after the leadership change and was expelled. When someone is expelled, a circular is sent to organizations nationwide, making it impossible for them to survive in the yakuza world; however, in recent years, there have been increasing cases where, while this is the official stance, personal ties remain intact.Suspect Amaha also didn’t seem to have any trouble making a living.

It’s said that Amaha was highly regarded as ‘humble and honest with money.’ Since he reliably moved the goods, the Sumiyoshi-kai likely wanted to continue doing business with him. As for Amaha himself, being expelled meant he no longer had to pay tribute, so he may have actually been able to earn more than before.”

As a drug dealer, he seems to have been quite a prominent figure.

“It was reported that he was selling about 10 grams of stimulants for 150,000 yen. At 15,000 yen per gram, Amaha’s price was indeed low. That’s the kind of price seen in transactions between organized crime groups or when long-time regular customers make bulk purchases.

Since this transaction was also for 10 grams, it was certainly a substantial amount. I’ve heard that Suspect Amaha has served time in prison five or six times, so he likely has an extensive network built up from those stints. He might have been able to keep his business running just by dealing with his regular customers.

The fact that he was able to sell at such a low price indicates he had powerful supply channels. It’s likely the police had been keeping an eye on him and conducting an investigation for quite some time. It’s possible they were investigating this case concurrently with the busts carried out in April and May.

“With the arrest of Suspect Amaha, the police have likely seized his smartphone as well. The information on customers and business partners stored there will be a major asset in the investigation into the Kohei family’s methamphetamine network.”

It seems the methamphetamine distribution network surrounding the Kohei family is gradually being brought to light—

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