Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177639920330320260407-marcos-oil-crisis-uplift-program-PCO1 (2).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine authorities on Thursday arrested two high-value Japanese fugitives linked to transnational criminal syndicates responsible for high-profile robbery and theft cases in their country.  <em>Courtesy of PAOCC via Michael Joe Delizo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Philippine authorities on Thursday arrested two high-value Japanese fugitives linked to transnational criminal syndicates responsible for high-profile robbery and theft cases in their country.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/14/2-japanese-held-in-manila-belong-to-syndicate-running-luffy-led-ring-1020">2 Japanese held in Manila belong to syndicate running &#x27;Luffy&#x27;-led ring</a></div><p>The duo, both classified as undesirable aliens and with standing deportation orders since 2023, were nabbed in separate operations in Metro Manila carried out by agents of the Bureau of Immigration–Fugitive Search Unit, in coordination with the Philippine National Police–Intelligence Group, Philippine Air Force, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and supporting units from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.</p><p>The first operation, conducted at about 5 p.m. in Mandaluyong City, resulted in the arrest of Sato Taiki, who is the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant in Japan for theft under the Japanese Penal Code.</p><p>He is identified as a member of the &quot;Luffy Group,&quot; a criminal organization linked to more than 50 robbery incidents across 14 prefectures in Japan between 2021 and 2023.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/06/30/23/luffy-member-arrested-in-japan-after-deportation-from-ph">&#x27;Luffy&#x27; crime ring member arrested for ordering Japan robberies from PH</a></div><p>Among these cases was a high-profile robbery in Tokyo that resulted in the death of a 90-year-old victim. Records also showed that several senior members of the same group were deported from the Philippines in early 2023.</p><p>A follow-up operation was conducted at around 6 p.m. in Manila, leading to the arrest of another fugitive, Masayuki Aoyagi, who is wanted in Japan for theft-related offenses.</p><p>He is identified as a key figure in the JP Dragon Syndicate, a transnational criminal organization composed largely of former Yakuza and Japanese mafia affiliates.</p><p>Intelligence reports indicate that the syndicate has been using the Philippines as a base for organized scam operations, establishing &quot;online workstations&quot; that serve as hubs for telecommunications fraud.</p><p>These operations primarily target vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly, through social engineering schemes, including the impersonation of law enforcement authorities to deceive victims and extract money and sensitive financial information.</p><p>Police Colonel Dave Poklay David, director of the PNP Intelligence Group, said efforts to arrest the suspects took three years.</p><p>“Mahirap talagang mahanap — gumagamit sila ng ibang pangalan, paiba-iba ng location. That’s why we really need the fusion of all intelligence units para magkaroon tayo ng mas mabilis na coordination at ma-identify at ma-locate sila,” he said.</p><p>(They are really difficult to find — they use different names and frequently change locations. That’s why we need the fusion of all intelligence units to enable faster coordination and to identify and locate them.)</p><p>Both individuals have been turned over to the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility and are currently undergoing deportation proceedings in coordination with Japanese authorities for their return and prosecution.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1NNu0XqDTNk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c69UCYz4vjg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SlPVS7CqfL8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dfO6VUWh7bw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jobL_Xb3M9U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Intelligence reports indicate that the syndicate has been using the Philippines as a base for organized scam operations, establishing "online workstations" that serve as hubs for telecommunications fraud.</p>

Intelligence reports indicate that the syndicate has been using the Philippines as a base for organized scam operations, establishing "online workstations" that serve as hubs for telecommunications fraud.

Philippines arrests 2 high-value Japanese fugitives linked to global crime rings

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Philippines arrests 2 high-value Japanese fugitives linked to global crime rings

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 17, 2026 12:18 PM PHT

Read More:

PAOCC

Japan

fugitive

transnational crime

Bureau of Immigration

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