Two Vietnamese Men Arrested for Illegally Converting and Selling E-Bikes as Unlicensed "Mopeds"; About 170 Units Modified Via Social Media Marketing
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Osaka Prefectural Police's Traffic Investigation Division announced by July 31, 2026 that it had arrested two Vietnamese men, including Thanh Thai Nguyen (27), a company employee living in Takashihama, Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (equipment defects, among other charges). They are accused of conspiring with three Vietnamese women in January and February of that year to modify three electrically assisted bicycles so they could run on motor power alone without pedaling, converting them into "mopeds" that require a driver's license to operate.
Nguyen and the other suspect are believed to have been soliciting customers via social media for around three years, having modified approximately 170 units in total and generated roughly 4 million yen in revenue. While the modified bicycles look nearly identical to standard electrically assisted bicycles, they are said to reach speeds of around 30 kilometers per hour, roughly double the normal speed. The case came to light after Osaka police cyber patrols found the suspects had posted videos of the modification process on social media. Nguyen has reportedly admitted to the allegations, saying, "I knew it would become a motorbike."
Current status: Whether the case will be referred for prosecution remains unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Other reported cases of illegal side businesses run via social media include an incident involving lending a company's registration to enable unlicensed taxi operations (related coverage). Cases of foreign nationals offering illegal services after soliciting customers through social media have been uncovered in various regions.