‘LUFFY’ GANG REMNANT ARRESTED IN MAKATI

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it will be deporting a Japanese national wanted by authorities in Tokyo for theft and robbery.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the fugitive as 26-year-old Nagaura Hiroki, who was arrested on May 26, 2024 on Estrella Avenue in Bgy. Poblacion, Makati City by operatives from the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit.

Tansingco said Hiroki’s arrest was sought by Japanese authorities in Manila, which informed the BI about the fugitive’s presence in the Philippines.

The BI chief bared that Hiroki will be soon be sent back to Tokyo as he was already ordered expelled by the BI in 2022 when an order for his summary deportation was issued by the Bureau’s Board of Commissioners.

“He was already placed in our immigration blacklist of undesirable aliens, thus he is perpetually barred from reentering the Philippines,” Tansingco said.

According to BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy, Hiroki had hidden in the Philippines since November 20, 2019 when he last arrived in the country as a tourist.  However, it was only in 2022 when the BI was informed of his case in Japan.

Upon receiving the information, the BI immediately conducted a manhunt against Hiroki, as well as his other cohorts in the “Luffy” scheme.

Hiroki reportedly has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Tokyo Summary Court for theft in violation of the Japanese Penal Code.

Tokyo policemen alleged that he conspired with another suspect in robbing a home by falsely impersonating a police officer, which enabled them to enter the residential premise under the pretext of investigating a stolen ATM card.

“Further, he is being investigated by the Japanese authorities for his involvement in alleged telecommunications fraud activities,” Sy said.

The fugitive is currently detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.