"Police. Show me your passport" ruse nets JPY190 million!

[TennoChinko]

Thieves posing as police steal ¥200 million from Chinese national in Taito Ward

http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2017/11/17 ... aito-ward/

On Monday morning, the Chinese national and an overseas exchange student were stopped by three men claiming to be police officers on a road in Taito Ward. “Policeman, passport,” one of them reportedly said. The trio then stole a bag containing around 190 million yen in cash that the pair had in their possession.

[Taro Toporific]

http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2017/11/17 ... aito-ward/

...Prior to the incident, the Chinese national and the student had hauled 46 kilograms in gold bars inside the bag to a precious metals shop. The gold was then sold for 190 million yen that was then placed in the bag.
At around 11:00 a.m. that same day, the Chinese national reported the theft to a police box in the ward....

HUH?
Those Chinese admitted to smuggling "46 kilograms in gold bars"...damn.
That's gotta be 10 years in jail if the cops recovered the stolen money.

(I suppose the victims were just gold couriers---Maybe it was an inside job.)

[legion]

10 years in prison may be better than falling off a tall building.

Whoever has the gold also has the money back.

[matsuki]

I was just doing the Cosplay, I don't recall if they handed me any cash....

[Taro Toporific]

Yakuza among 8 suspects in Ueno gold heist
Tokyo Reporter | November 22, 2017
TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police are searching have arrested eight persons, including an organized crime member, in the robbery of gold valued at nearly 100 million yen from a shop in Taito Ward earlier this year, reports NHK (Nov. 22).
In April, four persons attacked two employees outside the shop, located in the Ueno district, and stole a bag containing 20 gold bars valued at around 90 million yen. As the suspects fled the scene, the bag was dropped nearby with the bars still inside.
Police arrested Kosuke Shinagawa, a 37-year-old member of the Inagawa-kai, who is believed to have ordered the attack. Seven other persons have been arrested in the case, police said.
More...

[matsuki]

None of the suspects has commented on the allegations, which has proved to be problematic for the investigation, police said.

[wuchan]

I'm willing to bet the yaks own the gold exchange shop.

[matsuki]

....and a good insurance policy?

[FG Lurker]

Where the hell did "[a] Chinese national and an overseas exchange student" get 46kg of gold?

[Russell]

Where the hell did "[a] Chinese national and an overseas exchange student" get 46kg of gold?

Probably members of the communist party...

[legion]

Where the hell did "[a] Chinese national and an overseas exchange student" get 46kg of gold?

Probably members of the communist party...

Money laundering and tax evasion.