Two Japanese Fugitives, Including 'Luffy' Gang Member, Deported to Tokyo

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Friday that it has deported two Japanese fugitives to Tokyo on Wednesday to face charges filed against them in Japan. One of the deportees has been identified as a member of the "Luffy" gang. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the two individuals as Kazuo Takeuchi, 57, and Yutaka Nishiwaki, 44. They were escorted out of the Philippines and boarded separate flights bound for Tokyo on July 29. The BI's Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) arrested Takeuchi in July 2023 after Japanese authorities informed the bureau that he had fled to the Philippines. Takeuchi is facing charges of robbery resulting in bodily injury and theft filed with the Sage Summary Court. BI operatives apprehended Nishiwaki in January 2026 through a joint operation with the Philippine National Police and the National Police Agency of Japan. According to the BI, Nishiwaki 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. Furthermore, Japanese authorities stated that Nishiwaki is also a member of the Luffy syndicate. This syndicate is a transnational criminal organization that has reportedly amassed over 1 billion yen through theft, fraud, and other illegal activities while operating from the Philippines, the BI noted. Commissioner Viado emphasized, "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." He added that the BI will continue to collaborate with international partners to prevent foreign syndicates from using the Philippines as a base for criminal activities. Source: GMA News Philippines