Kumamoto Prefecture Hit by Large-Scale Theft of 650 Mandarin Orange Containers, Over 800,000 Yen in Damages

In Kumamoto Prefecture, 650 mandarin orange shipping containers were stolen, resulting in over 800,000 yen in damages. The victim appealed for the return of the stolen containers.

Thu May 21 2026

Large-Scale Theft of Mandarin Orange Containers

On May 20th, a large-scale theft of mandarin orange shipping containers occurred in Kumamoto Prefecture. Initially, 50 containers were reported missing, but further investigation revealed that a total of 650 containers had been stolen. Each container is valued at approximately 1,300 yen, bringing the total damages to over 800,000 yen. The victim, Kano Katsuji, speculated that the thieves' vehicle, likely a 2-ton truck, had made multiple trips to the site, based on tire marks found at the scene.

Manufacturing Instability and Victim's Plea

Kano Katsuji expressed concerns about the current shortage of naphtha, which makes it uncertain whether new containers can be manufactured. He highlighted that without the containers, there will be significant disruptions to mandarin orange shipments. He made a strong appeal to the thieves, asking them to return the containers if they see this news. The police are currently investigating the details of the incident.

*Source: YouTube: ANNnewsCH (2026-05-21)*

Tags: #japan #theft #agriculture #kumamoto #crime