Tokyo police on Tuesday arrested three individuals including a senior member of Manila-based Japanese crime group JP Dragon who was deported to Japan for his alleged links to what is known as the Luffy group, a separate crime network suspected of orchestrating a series of burglaries in Japan.
Tomohiro Koyama was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on board an aircraft while being deported from the Philippines. Koyama is believed to be the No. 3 member of the JP Dragon organization. Hiroki Nagaura, 26, and Eisei Miura, 41 were also arrested. All three are suspected of making fraudulent calls from the Philippines to Japan.
In January, Philippine authorities arrested Koyama on charges of fraud. The Metropolitan Police Department had obtained an arrest warrant for him on charges of theft related to special fraud and had requested his extradition.
Police have also issued arrest warrants for approximately 20 other members believed to be associated with the special fraud group.
The 50-year-old suspect allegedly instructed Kiyoto Imamura, the 40-year-old alleged leader of the Luffy group, to keep quiet about his involvement in fraud cases via a video call with a lawyer. Imamura is detained in Tokyo on suspicion of orchestrating a series of burglaries and has been indicted on charges including robbery resulting in death.
Tokyo police intend to further investigate Koyama’s role in these activities and explore the connections between Japanese and international criminal organizations, as well as the specific roles of each group involved.
Koyama is suspected of receiving a cash card in Tokyo in 2019 from a woman in her 50s who had been targeted in a fraud case, and withdrawing approximately ¥700,000 in cash using the card.
JP Dragon is a crime group said to have been established by former Japanese gang members based in the Philippines. It is believed to be deeply involved in illegal gambling within the Southeast Asian nation.
Police have suspected a link between JP Dragon and the Luffy group.
A source familiar with JP Dragon told NHK that even after the arrests of Imamura and other alleged Luffy group leaders, others in the Luffy group continued to carry out fraud with JP Dragon.
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