Japanese police have raided sites linked to a group of Vietnamese shoplifters targeting drugstores to determine the distribution route of stolen items.

Police searched four depots operated by the group, including sites in Saitama Prefecture's Sakado City, Chiba Prefecture's Yachiyo City and Osaka City.

Police suspect the shoplifted cosmetics and medicines were sent to the depots using home delivery services.

They say this is based on statements by Vietnamese arrested for alleged shoplifting from drugstores in central Japan and images of delivery slips saved on their cell phones.

The police plan to arrest a Vietnamese national in his 20's for allegedly receiving merchandise shoplifted from a drugstore in Aichi Prefecture.

Investigators suspect that carriers recruited on social media picked up stolen items from the depots and took them to Vietnam by air. They say the perpetrators were following orders from someone in Vietnam.

The investigators say one of those arrested has told them that he shoplifted 150 times between June and October.

The group is believed to have at least 10 depots across Japan.