Yakuza-Cartel War

Yakuza-Cartel War Beginning: 2001 End: 2001, a few days after the start of the war. Location: Staunton Island, Shoreside Vale Outcome: Presumed Yakuza victory Gangs Yakuza Colombian Cartel Commanders Asuka Kasen Catalina Miguel Strength Yakuza gang members Claude Cartel gang members Casualties Heavy Casualties Asuka Kasen Heavy Casualties Reputation, turf and influence Both their leaders killed.

The Yakuza-Cartel War is, as the name states, a gang war in Grand Theft Auto III between the Colombian Cartel and the Yakuza. It is one of the three major gang wars of Grand Theft Auto III, the other two being the Triads-Leone War and the Yakuza-Leone War. The war acts as the final section of Grand Theft Auto III's storyline. Key players of the war include Miguel and Catalina of the Colombian Cartel, and Asuka Kasen and Claude of the Yakuza.

Before the war

The rivalry between the Yakuza and the Colombian Cartel is ongoing feud starting from the production of the Cartel-created drug SPANK. The sales of SPANK had attracted the Yardies attention, allying themselves with the Cartels, interrupting Kenji Kasen's interest in the city. He sends Claude to ruin the meeting between the two gangs at Rockford. All goes bad, the two have formed their alliance and now the Yardies are pushing the drug on the street of Staunton Island. Angered by this action, Kenji sends Claude to kill the Yardie pushers on the streets.

The start of the war

Real estate owner Donald Love takes advantage of the feud between the Yakuza and the Cartels to drop sales in real estate. Love sends Claude to steal a Cartel Cruiser to disguise as a Cartel member and kill Kenji Kasen on the parking lot roof in Newport. This action causes Kenji's sister Asuka Kasen to make an open attack on the Cartel in Fort Staunton, taking full control of the construction site.

Cartel leader Miguel was blamed for the death of Kenji and is being tortured non stop by Asuka to reveal the Cartel's plots to push SPANK across Liberty City. Asuka sends Claude to destroy the Cartel's operations by destroying Espresso 2 Go vendors, killing Cartel assassins sent by Catalina to kill Claude, and to collect all of Catalina's SPANK in a plane making its last flight through Francis International Airport.

The end of the war

The Cartels soon return to the Construction site to kill Miguel and Asuka. In order to save Maria Latore, Claude goes to the Cartel mansion to give a ransom to Catalina, only for her to double cross him, taking the money and Maria while leaving Claude to her guards to kill him. Claude however, survives and chases her helicopter, where he shoots her helicopter out of the sky with a rocket launcher, killing her and effectively ending the war.