The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) arrested a key suspect in a motorcycle carnapping syndicate, dealing a significant blow to the group as a manhunt is also underway for three fugitive accomplices.

The suspect, identified as the syndicate’s leader, was apprehended Tuesday in Barangay Panghulo, Malabon City, during an entrapment operation. Police are now pursuing his accomplices.

The case began when a motorcycle theft victim spotted his stolen vehicle on Facebook Marketplace and alerted authorities.

Operatives set up an entrapment operation, posing as buyers and transacting with the seller. Unaware of the trap, the suspect presented the motorcycle. Once the victim confirmed it was his, officers arrested the suspect.

His three accomplices are now fugitives and targets of an intensified manhunt.

Following the suspect’s arrest, police recovered two stolen motorcycles — a matte black Yamaha Aerox V2 with a falsified license plate and a black NMAX V2 with a tampered motor vehicle file and chassis number.

Further searches led to the seizure of an original and a replacement Yamaha Aerox remote controller, believed to be used to illegally access and resell stolen vehicles.

Authorities also confiscated a falsified unified multi-purpose identification card and a photocopy of a driver’s license with altered details, suggesting the syndicate’s possible involvement in identity fraud and document falsification to support their criminal operations.