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Japanese 'Luffy gang member' arrested -- BI

Philippines | National

Japanese 'Luffy gang member' arrested -- BI

By Jeffrey Damicog

A Japanese fugitive, who is suspected to be a member of the “Luffy” crime group based in Japan, has been arrested in Taguig City, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Sunday, Aug. 3.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado identified him as Kensuke Kudo, 28, who was arrested by operatives of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) last August 1 in coordination with the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan and the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group (PNP-IG).

“The arrest of Kensuke Kudo is a major step forward in dismantling foreign criminal syndicates exploiting Philippine territory,” Viado said.

The BI said that Kudo, whose passport already expired on Oct. 4, 2024, is wanted in Japan for his involvement in a massive fraud operation, and a warrant of arrest was issued against him by the Tokyo Summary Court last January for theft in violation of the Japanese Penal Code.

It also said that Japanese authorities revealed that Kudo and his accomplices posed as law enforcement officers to deceive elderly victims into surrendering their automated teller machine (ATM) cards and personal information.

The group then allegedly used the stolen data to withdraw large sums of money without authorization, it added.

Kudo is now detained at the BI’s facility in Taguig City pending his deportation.

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