The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported two Japanese fugitives, one of whom is a remaining member of the ''Luffy'' syndicate, to Tokyo on Wednesday morning as part of its continuing efforts to rid the country of foreign fugitives and dismantle transnational criminal syndicates operating in the Philippines.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the deportees as Takeuchi Kazuo, 57, and Nishiwaki Yutaka, 44, who were both escorted out of the country aboard separate Japan Airlines flights bound for Tokyo .

Japanese authorities also identified Nishiwaki as one of the remaining members of the notorious "Luffy" syndicate, a transnational criminal organization believed to have amassed more than ¥1 billion through theft, fraud, and other illegal activities while operating from the Philippines.

Viado said the deportations underscore the strong partnership between the Philippines and Japan in combating transnational crime.

"Our close cooperation with Japanese law enforcement authorities has been instrumental in ensuring that fugitives cannot use the Philippines as a sanctuary from justice. Through timely intelligence sharing and joint operations, we continue to strengthen our collective fight against transnational criminal organizations," Viado said.

Takeuchi was arrested by the BI's Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in July 2023 after Japanese authorities informed the BI that he had fled to the Philippines to evade prosecution. He was wanted by the Sage Summary Court for robbery resulting in bodily injury and theft.

Nishiwaki was arrested by BI operatives in January this year in a joint operation with the National Police Agency of Japan and the Philippine National Police. He was wanted by the Tokyo Summary Court for theft after allegedly posing as a law enforcement officer to deceive elderly victims into surrendering their ATM cards and personal banking information, allowing his group to steal funds through unauthorized withdrawals.

Viado said the Bureau remains committed to supporting international law enforcement efforts by ensuring that foreign fugitives are located, arrested, and removed from the country. BI News