Japanese police are investigating a nationwide ATM heist after nearly 1.4 billion yen ($18.8 million) was illegally withdrawn from 1400 cash machines in the space of two hours.
Police suspect more than 100 members of an international crime syndicate were behind the meticulously planned robbery, which took place in the early hours of May 15, according to Kyodo News.
Cash was withdrawn almost simultaneously across Tokyo and 16 other prefectures using counterfeit credit cards containing account information stolen from the South African institution Standard Bank.
The suspects reportedly withdrew cash from ATMs inside 1400 Seven-11 convenience stores, with each transaction totalling 100,000 yen, the cash machine limit.
Japanese police are believed to have started the painstaking process of checking security cameras in each of the stores in a bid to identify the culprits involved.