The number of rightwing extremists arrested by police in the first half of this year jumped about 30 percent to reach 1,017, up 232 from a year earlier and exceeding the 1,000 level for the first time since the National Police Agency began keeping records in 1994, the agency said Thursday.

The number of members of extreme rightist groups committing crimes has increased recently, especially in blackmailing and drug trafficking and use.

The NPA believes that rightwing groups' financial difficulties in the sluggish economy have led to deepening ties with crime syndicates and that some members are even joining gangs.

According to the NPA, 166 rightwingers were arrested for blackmail or attempted blackmail between January and June, 51 more than the same period last year.

The number arrested for the trafficking or use of drugs was 76 in the first half of this year, an increase of 17 from a year earlier.

Of the 1,017 arrests, 612, or 60.2 percent, were related to crime syndicates, the NPA said, adding that this was 176 more than a year earlier.

Regarding the ubiquitous sound trucks used for street demonstrations, police arrested 116 members on noise pollution charges in the first half of this year, an increase of 72 and roughly a 150 percent increase from a year earlier. , the NPA said.

In March and April, Osaka Prefectural Police held several members of a rightwing group , based in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture were held on suspicion of conducting illegal radio communications. Police seized 21 vehicles used for street protests. , according to the NPA.