Japanese theft suspects deported

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported two Japanese fugitives wanted in Tokyo for robbery and fraud schemes, officials said.

Immigration commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the deportees as Takeuchi Kazuo and Nishiwaki Yutaka.

Both men were escorted out of the country on separate Japan Airlines flights bound for Tokyo last 29 July.

Viado said the deportations highlight the partnership between the Philippines and Japan in combating transnational crime.

"Our close cooperation with Japanese law enforcement authorities has been instrumental in ensuring fugitives cannot use the Philippines as a sanctuary from justice," Viado said.

"Through timely intelligence sharing and joint operations, we continue to strengthen our collective fight against transnational criminal organizations."

Takeuchi was arrested by the bureau's Fugitive Search Unit in July 2023 after Japanese authorities notified local officials that he had fled to the Philippines to evade prosecution.

He was wanted by the Sage Summary Court for robbery resulting in bodily injury and theft.

Meantime, Nishiwaki was arrested in January during a joint operation involving immigration operatives, the National Police Agency of Japan and the Philippine National Police.

Wanted by the Tokyo Summary Court for theft, Nishiwaki allegedly posed as a law enforcement officer to trick elderly victims into handing over their ATM cards and personal banking details.

His group then stole funds through unauthorized withdrawals.

Japanese authorities identified Nishiwaki as one of the remaining members of the "Luffy" syndicate, a transnational criminal organization believed to have stolen more than 1 billion yen through theft and fraud while operating from the Philippines.