TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police has arrested three additional men, including members of rival yakuza syndicates, for their alleged roles in orchestrating the brazen theft of over 400 million yen on a street in Taito Ward earlier this year, reports TBS News (June 3).
In January, a 38-year-old man was targeted on a street in Higashi-Ueno while transporting approximately 423 million yen in cash. The victim had reportedly planned to travel to Hong Kong to purchase gold when the massive sum was snatched.
On Tuesday, police apprehended Makoto Kitahara, 42, a yakuza-linked associate, and Kyoichi Yamaguchi, 29, an executive of a gang affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai, along with one other suspect on suspicion of theft.
Investigators believe the trio acted as key coordinators for the heist. Kitahara is accused of temporarily hiding the getaway vehicle used by the robbers, while Yamaguchi allegedly recruited the three men who carried out the street-level theft and directed their gathering spots.
The arrests highlight an unusual collaborative effort between members of Japan’s major underworld groups. In April, police previously arrested seven individuals connected to the case, including an executive from a sixth-generation Yamaguchi-gumi affiliate who acted as an organizer, and members of the Sumiyoshi-kai who carried out the robbery.
Following recent property searches, investigators have seized approximately 35.7 million yen. However, nearly 400 million yen of the stolen cash remains unaccounted for.
Police are now hunting for a suspected informant, believing another individual leaked the victim’s cash transport route to the criminal ring.
