About ¥300 million from all the money collected by an association of stall operators in Hyogo Prefecture last year remains unaccounted for, and most likely went to the yakuza, prefectural police said Wednesday.

Police allege the money collected by now-defunct Shinno Commercial Cooperative Association, whose close ties to the underworld recently came to light, went to fund crime syndicates.

Police probing the operation of 16,000 stalls set up at about 400 festivals and other events in 2012 confirmed that about ¥300 million was missing, after deducting venue rental fees and other costs.