Overview
- Police say the ringleaders bought multiple third-party X accounts and posted promises of same‑day pay to recruit participants, with planning traced to at least three months before the crimes.
- Digital forensics of seized smartphones uncovered group chats discussing how to select execution‑role members for the robberies.
- Authorities have arrested 38 suspects who allegedly carried out 18 robberies across Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa between August and November last year.
- Four men — Hiroto Fukuchi, Takuya Saito, Karura Murakami and Shota Watanabe — were arrested as instruction roles and are regarded by investigators as the masterminds who issued orders via Signal.
- Most recruits drawn in by high‑pay pitches received little or no compensation, and stolen cash and cards were funneled through three collectors, two reportedly close to Fukuchi, to prevent skimming by lower‑level members.