Tokyo police have arrested seven people, including gang members, on suspicion of involvement in a robbery in January of more than 400 million yen in cash.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department says the robbery involved a group of Japanese and Chinese nationals who were carrying three suitcases containing cash. They were attacked by three assailants with a pepper-spray like substance on a street in the capital’s Taito Ward on the night of January 29.
The attackers snatched the suitcases containing about 420 million yen, or around 2.6 million dollars, and fled in a minivan driven by an accomplice. Shortly afterward, they switched to another van driven by a different accomplice before continuing their getaway.
On Saturday, police arrested seven men, including members of crime syndicates, on suspicion of involvement in the heist. The police have not said whether the suspects have admitted to the allegations.
About two-and-a-half hours after the incident, another group of Japanese carrying about 190 million yen, or nearly 1.2 million dollars, was assaulted by four men in a parking lot of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
The assailants fled the scene without the money, which was reportedly being transported to Hong Kong to be converted into another currency.
One of the victims continued on to Hong Kong where he was attacked and robbed of about 51 million yen, or roughly 320,000 dollars, on a busy street.
Four people, including Japanese nationals, have already been arrested and indicted in Hong Kong for allegedly conspiring to commit robbery.
Police are investigating whether the two incidents in Japan are related.
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