Overview
- Four men — Hiroto Fukuchi, Takuya Saito, Karura Murakami and Shota Watanabe — were arrested as alleged masterminds directing attacks across the Tokyo region.
- Authorities attribute 18 robberies in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa between August and November last year to the group, with 38 executioners arrested.
- Forensic work on roughly 750 seized smartphones identified more than 50 account names used to issue instructions to participants.
- The suspects are believed to have purchased multiple X accounts to post “instant cash” and “high pay” dark‑job ads that recruited young executioners.
- Most recruits received little or no pay, while recovery agents were allowed to skim several tens of thousands of yen; about 10 such couriers were arrested and total arrests now stand at 55.