BI deports 2 Japanese nationals arrested for theft

MANILA, Philippines — Two Japanese fugitives have been deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) after being separately arrested for theft, the agency said on Friday.

According to the BI, 57-year-old Takeuchi Kazuo and 44-year-old Nishiwaki Yutaka boarded separate Japan Airlines flights bound for Tokyo, Japan last July 29.

READ: PAOCC: 2 foreign fugitives arrested for theft, fraud

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The BI noted that Takeuchi was arrested by authorities in July 2023 as he was wanted by the Sage Summary Court for robbery that resulted in body injuries. Meanwhile, Nishiwaki was arrested in January 2026 after being wanted by the Tokyo Summary Court for theft as he allegedly posed as a law enforcement officer to deceive his victims.

“Japanese authorities also identified Nishiwaki as one of the remaining members of the notorious “Luffy” syndicate, a transnational criminal organization believed to have amassed more than ¥1 billion through theft, fraud, and other illegal activities while operating from the Philippines,” the BI said in a press release.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that the two fugitives’ deportation was made possible through the close coordination of the Philippine government and Japanese law enforcement authorities.

“Our close cooperation with Japanese law enforcement authorities has been instrumental in ensuring that fugitives cannot use the Philippines as a sanctuary from justice. Through timely intelligence sharing and joint operations, we continue to strengthen our collective fight against transnational criminal organizations,” Viado said in the same press release.

He also said that the agency will continue to hold accountable those foreign fugitives staying in the Philippines and make sure that they face justice in their home countries. /jpv