Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested seven Japanese nationals identified as key members of the notorious “JP Dragon” criminal fraud organization wanted in Japan for large-scale scams.

In a statement Friday, BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado hailed the arrests as a “major accomplishment” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, stating that it eliminates the group’s presence in the Philippines and ends their fraudulent activities there.

Members of the BI Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) apprehended five of the alleged gang leaders on Wednesday in a residential area along Quirino Highway in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

They were identified as Hiraki Ishikawa, Tsubasa Amano, Sasaki Ken, Akira Sambonchiku and Naoto Matsumoto.

In a separate operation the same day, BI-FSU agents arrested Rintaro Yamane and Masato Morihiro at a condominium along Adriatico Street in Ermita, Manila.

Japanese authorities identified the group as members of the “JP Dragon” syndicate, which is accused of orchestrating widespread fraud, primarily targeting elderly individuals in Japan.

The syndicate allegedly impersonated authorities to deceive victims into handing over large sums of money, and in some instances, stole ATM cards after gaining entry into their homes.

According to BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy, six of the suspects were the subject of arrest warrants issued by a summary court in Fukuoka, Japan, on March 5 for theft allegations. Matsumoto was found to be an overstaying alien.

Sy noted that the operation to apprehend the seven individuals was “challenging” and involved months of surveillance and coordination with the San Jose del Monte and Ermita police stations.

He added that the “JP Dragon” syndicate is considered one of the largest crime groups in Japan, with many of its leaders believed to be former members of the Yakuza. Sy also linked the “Luffy Group” syndicate to the “JP Dragon” organization.

Sy stressed the importance of the arrests and the suspects’ deportation to Japan, warning of the potential for the syndicate to establish local operations and victimize Filipinos.

The arrested Japanese nationals are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Bicutan.