The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Sunday the apprehension of another Japanese fugitive wanted in Tokyo, Japan, for his involvement in telecommunications fraud.

BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the fugitive as Eiji Shigematsu, who was arrested last 7 February along Ayala Avenue in Bel Air Village, Makati City, by BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) operatives.

Viado said Shigematsu was arrested based on a mission order he issued after receiving information from the Japanese government about his presence in the country.

“He will be deported, blacklisted, and prohibited from entering the country again,” Viado said.

BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said Shigematsu was charged with theft in violation of the Japanese penal code, and the Kajiki Summary Court in Japan issued an arrest warrant against him in July 2024.

Shigematsu and his associates allegedly operated voice phishing schemes targeting several of their compatriots.

According to Japanese authorities, the suspects allegedly posed as police officials to defraud victims of money. Authorities also believe Shigematsu and his associates ran a similar scheme on a smaller scale, despite not being members of the “Luffy” gang.