Two Iranian men were arrested in late February on suspicion of murdering a compatriot last December in Nagoya, investigators confirmed this week.
The men allegedly killed Anami Shirmard Milad, 27, on a street in Nagoya around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 20 by beating him and stabbing him with a knife. Police suspect several others were also involved in the assault.
The two suspects, aged 43 and 32, have denied the charge.
Investigators suspect Anami Shirmard was in the country illegally. A bag found at the scene contained more than 40 syringes and appeared to belong to the victim, police said, leading to speculation the assault was over a drug deal gone wrong.
The assailants used two cars to force the victim to pull over and fled in a third car with a Mie Prefecture license plate, investigators said Thursday.
Five or six people are suspected to be involved in the attack, including two that police are tracking using security camera footage.