8 Japanese fugitives deported

MANILA, Philippines — Immigration authorities deported yesterday eight Japanese fugitives linked to the robbery group “Luffy.”

The group, named after its suspected leader, has been implicated in violent robberies and other crimes across Japan.

The deported Japanese were arrested in Laguna on Jan. 11, 2020.

They were escorted by 20 Japanese law enforcement officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 yesterday.

Harada Shota, 29; Nakamura Naoto, 27; Endo Seijiro, 35; Kobayashi Mikio, 33; Hashimoto Kodai, 29; Otani Takuya, 28; Mayuzumi Kaito, 25, and Sakiyama Kenta, 29, left the country on a Japan Airlines flight, which departed at around 9:45 a.m.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the deportation of suspected Luffy members is a significant step in the country’s efforts to combat transnational crime.

Department of Justice spokesman Mico Clavano clarified yesterday that the deported fugitives are not members of the Luffy group, but were allegedly involved in telephone scams and credit card fraud.

On Feb. 7, 2023, two members of the Luffy group were also deported: Yuki Watanabe, believed to be the gang leader, as well as Kojima or Saito Tomonobu.

Watanabe and Tomonobu were apprehended in Parañaque on March 17, 2021.

Other suspected Luffy members arrested by Philippine authorities include Imamura Kiyoto on Dec. 26, 2019 and Fujita Toshiya on Feb. 21, 2021.