Police search vehicle thieves' facilities

Police in Japan has searched facilities in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, for evidence of a series of vehicle thefts.

The facilities belong to a criminal group, 43 of whose members have been arrested or indicted for stealing a large number of vans.

Police believe the group members, including people from Japan, Nigeria and Brazil, dismantled Toyota vans they stole in Osaka, Hyogo and other prefectures, and illegally exported the parts, mainly to Southeast Asia.

Police have searched 10 sites in Hyogo, which include a firm run by the group. Police suspect the firm is responsible for hiding and dismantling the stolen vehicles.

The criminal ring is suspected of stealing some 500 vehicles, worth roughly seven million dollars.

Police say they want to find evidence of the group's exporting of illegal vehicle parts by checking through documents confiscated in the house search