Japan Coast Guard boosts cyber capabilities to combat digital crime rings

CybersecurityAnonymous groups use social media to recruit members, organize operationsA Japan Coast Guard officer seizes illegal drugs from the hull of a ship. (Japan Coast Guard)KEIICHI YAMAGUCHIJuly 16, 2026 02:27 JSTTOKYO -- The Japan Coast Guard has set up a dedicated cyber investigation team to counter drug smuggling by groups connected through social media, as the law enforcement agency looks to protect maritime security in the face of increasingly sophisticated criminal methods.