A member of the notorious syndicate “Dragon” has been arrested for his involvement in a robbery case, shedding light on the inner workings of the gang. Interestingly, this individual had previously left the gang and has been engaged in rehabilitation and support activities for over a decade.
Arrest of a “Dragon” Founding Member
Suspected of instructing a robbery and assault incident, Wang Nan, who was formerly involved in an NPO supporting the rehabilitation of inmates and parolees, has been taken into custody. Wang was one of the founding members of the notorious group “Dragon.”
Wang Nan, Founding Member of “Dragon”: “We had many conflicts with the yakuza. I was even in shootings…“
On the 10th of this month, Wang Nan, who was actively involved in operating an NPO supporting the rehabilitation of inmates and parolees, was arrested for his alleged role in a robbery and assault case. What led to this turn of events?
In March of this year, a group of men disguised as gas company personnel broke into an apartment in Tokyo’s Toshima ward, causing injuries to a Chinaman and making off with ¥1 million in cash, among other items. Four individuals have been charged so far, and it is believed that three Mongolian nationals were also involved in the crime. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Wang Nan was accused of issuing instructions without being present at the scene.
The Reality of “Dragon”
Wang Nan, a founding member of the gang “Dragon,” spoke about the group’s origins. “Dragon” was formed in the 1980s, primarily consisting of second and third-generation Chinese orphans left in Japan. Wang Nan had this to say about the group’s founding:
“As we were Chinese, we often faced bullying and were attacked by yakuza outside of school. To resist this, we started walking home as a group, and the male members of that group became the founding members of ‘Dragon.’ Initially, it was just about mutual support and resistance against bullying, but eventually, we turned into thugs. We didn’t intend to form a biker gang or mafia-like organization.”
Wang Nan was arrested in 2000 in a fraud case and received a 13-year prison sentence. After his release, he left “Dragon” and, in 2015, established an NPO to support the rehabilitation of inmates and parolees.
“Now, people often say, ‘You’re doing commendable work.’ But I didn’t intend for it to be this way. It’s never too late to discover the person you want to become or the life you want to lead. Since then, I started an initiative to send books to current inmates.”
Just a month after the robbery and assault case, Wang Nan shared his dreams about the rehabilitation support organization:
From Wang Nan’s Rehabilitation Support Organization’s Social Media: “I’ve been asked, ‘What are your dreams?’ I’d like to have a dedicated office space and full-time staff for the organization.”
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Wang Nan denies any involvement in the case, stating, “This has nothing to do with me.”
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