A Japanese Yakuza gangster was found chopped up in Thailand as cops hunt two more Japanese suspects from the same gang.

Ryousuke Kabashima, 47, was allegedly murdered with a bullet to the brain by two fellow Japanese nationals Hiroto Suzuki, 33, and Takuya Kato, 50, in a factory on the outskirts of Bangkok.

He was reportedly dismembered and a Thai driver Kritsakorn Jaipitak, 30, hired by the Japanese men was said to have scattered the body parts around Nonthaburi province.

Ryousuke's severed hand with a Yakuza tattoo on his wrist was among the body parts found scattered around a pond on April 19. A saw was also discovered in the water.

Police are now searching for the Japanese men who are wanted criminals in Japan and believed to be members of the Yamaguchi-gumi wing of the notorious Yakuza.

Police Colonel Parit Chamroonsat, superintendent of the Bang Bua Thong Police, said: 'The court has granted the arrest warrant for the three suspects, including the Thai driver. 

'We are actively searching for the two Japanese men. Immigration records indicate that they have not departed the country. 

'Red notices will be issued and forwarded to the Japanese government and international authorities to facilitate the search for both suspects.'

The grisly gangland killing came to light when a local boy found Ryousuke's dismembered right hand in the Soi Chat San Sawing 2 area of Nonthaburi on April 19.

The discovery sparked a police search for the other body parts.

Police said five more bags of human remains were found on Tuesday, April 23.

Authorities said a tattoo on Ryousuke's hand indicated he was a member of the Yakuza. They believe his head had been severed with a chainsaw, based on the cleanly cut vertebrae.

The Thai driver Kritsakorn was arrested later that day and detained at the Bang Bua Thong Police Station.

In his testimony, Kritsakorn claimed the Japanese men had hired him to take them to the factory in Bangkok's Phuttamonthon Sai 2 area.

Upon arrival, the men reportedly began arguing, and he said he was asked to leave the car. While having a smoke, he heard a gunshot from inside the vehicle and discovered that Ryousuke had been shot in the head.

He said his the two passengers then dragged the dead body inside the factory, then later emerged carrying plastic bags containing the dismembered remains.

He claimed he was ordered to dump the bags in different areas in the Bang Bua Thong district.

Police Colonel Parit said Kritsakorn is facing charges of colluding to conceal a body, which carries a punishment of up to a year in jail, a fine of 2,000 THB (43 GBP), or both.

Based on information provided by Japanese authorities, the two Japanese men were found to be members of the Yamaguchi-gumi gang - Japan's largest Yakuza organisation and one of the world's wealthiest criminal groups.

One of the suspects, whom officers did not name, had reportedly been living in Thailand for several years and was second-in-command of the organisation. His visa had expired in 2022.

Police believe Ryousuke was murdered over an internal dispute among the gang members.

The Yamaguchi-gumi is Japan's largest Yakuza group, which has an estimated 3,500 active members at the end of 2023, according to the country's National Police Agency.

The Kobe-based mafia generates billions of dollars annually through various illicit activities such as extortion, gambling, sex, arms and drug trafficking, and real estate and construction kickback schemes. 

They have also been rumoured to be involved in stock market manipulation and are connected to internet pornography.

While headquartered in Kobe, the Yamaguchi-gumi operates extensively throughout Japan and maintains overseas operations including in Asia and the United States.