By Our Correspondent

TOKYO - Japanese police are investigating a series of violent robberies involving vast sums of cash after criminals targeted pedestrians and travelers in central Tokyo, stealing suitcases reportedly containing hundreds of millions of yen and raising concerns over the safety of cross-border cash transport operations.

Late Thursday night, three suspects robbed seven people in Tokyo’s Ueno district, fleeing with three suitcases that victims said held around 420 million yen (about $2.7 million), according to Kyodo News.

 The robbery occurred around 9:30 p.m. near JR Okachimachi Station in Taito Ward as the group—comprising both Japanese and Chinese nationals—was loading the cash into a passenger car, police said.

One Chinese man in his 40s was allegedly sprayed with pepper spray during the attack. As the suspects sped away, a pedestrian in his 50s was struck by a vehicle nearby and suffered minor injuries. A small blue passenger car believed to have been used in the escape was later found abandoned in the area.

Investigators believe the robbers later switched to a white van driven by another individual. According to an investigative source, the van is registered to a person with alleged links to organized crime. The Okachimachi area, known for its concentration of jewelry shops, has seen similar crimes in the past, alarming local residents.

- Second attack near Haneda Airport

Just hours later, in what police say may be a related incident, a Japanese man in his 50s was attacked with pepper spray around 12:10 a.m. Friday in a parking lot at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The victim was carrying luggage containing 190 million yen in cash, but the attackers—four people in a white vehicle—failed to steal anything. Despite minor injuries, the man later continued his journey to Hong Kong with the money.

Police said victims in both Tokyo incidents told investigators the cash was intended to be transported from Haneda Airport to Hong Kong for currency exchange purposes. One person involved said the task was to convert Japanese yen into Hong Kong dollars.

- Possible international links

The case has taken on an international dimension after reports from Hong Kong media said two Japanese men were robbed of a backpack containing 58 million yen outside a currency exchange in Sheung Wan on Friday morning. Hong Kong police later confirmed that at least one suspect had been arrested, though details remain limited.

Tokyo police are now examining whether the man who traveled to Hong Kong after the Haneda attack was targeted again, suggesting a coordinated criminal network operating across borders.

- China issues travel advisory

Following confirmation that Chinese nationals were among the victims, China’s embassy in Japan issued a travel advisory, urging Chinese citizens to remain vigilant, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and strengthen personal security measures while in Japan. The advisory also recommended using formal banking channels for currency exchange and reporting suspicious activity immediately to local authorities.

The incidents have sparked debate over the risks associated with large-scale cash movements and highlighted growing concerns about organized crime targeting currency couriers in major Asian transit hubs. Japanese police said investigations are ongoing, with authorities working alongside international counterparts to track suspects and prevent further attacks.