Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a series of high-value robbery incidents after a suitcase containing ¥420 million was stolen in broad daylight in the Higashi-Ueno area of Taito Ward, raising concerns about organized criminal activity targeting large cash movements.
According to investigative sources, the robbery took place on January 29 when a group of five individuals was intercepted on a street in Higashi-Ueno. The victims were reportedly preparing to transport the cash to Hong Kong via Haneda Airport when they were ambushed. The incident was followed by a hit-and-run in the same area, triggering an extensive police response and area-wide searches.
Just hours later, a separate but similarly alarming incident occurred in the early hours of January 30 at Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3 parking lot. In that case, a man was attacked with a tear-gas-like substance during an attempted robbery involving approximately ¥190 million. The suspect or suspects fled the scene before authorities arrived.
Investigators are now examining whether the two cases are connected, citing similarities in timing, location, and the unusually large sums of cash involved. The possibility that an organized group was tracking and targeting individuals carrying substantial amounts of money has not been ruled out.
Police are currently pursuing multiple leads and reviewing surveillance footage from surrounding streets and airport facilities. Authorities have also urged the public and businesses to exercise heightened caution when handling or transporting large quantities of cash, especially in public areas.
The incidents have sparked renewed discussion in Japan about cash security and the risks associated with physical transportation of large sums, even as the country continues its gradual shift toward cashless transactions. Investigations remain ongoing.
Original news source: https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2026013000168/
