Nagaura Hiroki awaiting his deportation back to Japan. He is believe to be part of the robbery group “Luffy.” Photo from the Bureau of Immigration
MANILA CITY, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has already started deportation procedures for another Japanese citizen believed to be part of the “Luffy” robbery and crime group in his country.
“Luffy” became controversial in the Philippines after it was discovered that its leader and three other members had managed to continue operations in Japan despite being detained in Manila.
>READ: 2 more Japanese fugitives linked to ‘Luffy’ robberies deported
Nagaura Hiroki, 26 years old, was arrested on May 26 along Estrella Avenue in Barangay Poblacion, Makati, by members of the BI’s fugitive search unit.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Japanese authorities in Manila sought Hiroki’s arrest and informed the BI about the fugitive’s presence in the Philippines
Tansingco said Hiroki will soon be sent back to Tokyo since the BI expelled him in 2022 through summary deportation.
READ: Who is ‘Luffy’ behind string of robberies? PH gov’t still awaits Japanese confirmation
“He was already placed in our immigration blacklist of undesirable aliens, thus he is perpetually barred from reentering the Philippines,” Tansingco added.
According to BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy, Hiroki had been hiding in the Philippines since November 20, 2019 when he last arrived in the country as a tourist. The BI was informed of his pending case in Japan in 2022.
Hiroki reportedly has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Tokyo Summary Court for theft in violation of the Japanese penal code.
“Further, he is being investigated by the Japanese authorities for his involvement in alleged telecommunications fraud activities,” Sy said.
The fugitive is currently detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending deportation proceedings.