Three knife-wielding assailants made off with approximately 1 billion Japanese yen (US$6.4 million) from currency exchange couriers in a bustling business area in Sheung Wan on Thursday morning. Police have since arrested one suspect in this connection.

The incident occurred at 9:06 am outside 181 Queen's Road Central in the New Era Plaza.

According to Chinese-language media, the victims — two men aged 39 and 51, along with their car driver — had just arrived with four suitcases containing the massive sum of yen. They were planning to exchange the currency at a nearby HSBC bank branch. As they exited their vehicle, they were approached by three robbers, two of whom were brandishing knives.

The assailants threatened the couriers, seized two gray and two blue suitcases filled with yen, and then escaped in a waiting car toward Bonham Strand.

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Authorities responded rapidly after receiving the distress call. During their search in the vicinity, they apprehended a 43-year-old man near Exit D of the Sheung Wan MTR station.

The suspect was found in possession of a suitcase containing a large amount of yen and is believed to be connected to the crime. He is a mainland Chinese citizen holding a two-way permit and has been arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the victims were employees of a money exchange shop located on Wing Lok Street. The substantial amount of Japanese yen was reportedly owned by another individual. The exchange shop primarily deals with foreign trade businesses, profiting from currency exchange differences, and has operated for many years without any prior incidents of robbery.