‘Luffy’ gang member behind bars

Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested another Japanese national suspected of involvement in the “Luffy” gang, which has been linked to violent crimes, extortion, theft and fraud in Japan.

BI commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado said 23-year-old Takuya Hoshino was apprehended by the BI Fugitive Search Unit last Tuesday at his residence in Bernice Subdivision, Casimiro Avenue, Las Piñas City.

Viado said the arrest aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen border control and combat transnational crimes to preserve national security and public safety.

“This is a clear demonstration that under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda, lawbreakers — foreign or local — will not find refuge in our country,” Viado said.

Hoshino is the latest suspected “Luffy” gang member arrested by the bureau since Japanese authorities revealed their presence in the Philippines last year.

BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said Hoshino is wanted in Japan for alleged theft under the Japanese penal code. The Tokyo Summary Court issued an arrest warrant for him on 15 September 2022.

According to Sy, Hoshino and his accomplices allegedly targeted elderly individuals by posing as law enforcement officers and stealing ATM cards. They reportedly fabricated police investigations to deceive their victims into surrendering their bank cards.

The suspects allegedly stole more than 20 million yen or over US$141,000 through illegal withdrawals using the stolen cards.