By Marie Manalili

Seven Japanese nationals who are allegedly members of a theft and scam syndicate in Japan were arrested in two operations in Bulacan and Manila on Wednesday, authorities said on Thursday.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the suspects arrested along Quirino Highway, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan as Hiraki Ishikawa, 45, Tsubasa Amano, 31, Ken Sasaki, 37, Akira Sambonchiku, 28, and Naoto Matsumoto, 36. Arrested individuals along Adriatico street, Ermita, Manila were identified as Rintaro Yamane, 27 and Masato Morihiro, 38.

BI said that the two Japanese nationals arrested in Manila "are top members of the JP Dragon syndicate".

Meanwhile, BI added that four out of the five Japanese fugitives arrested in Bulacan "have an arrest warrant issued by the Fukuoka Summary Court on March 5, 2025, for Theft in violation of Article 248 of the Japanese Penal Code" while Matsumoto is "an overstaying alien based on the BI database".

"Likewise, all of the above-referenced Japanese nationals are top members of the JP Dragon syndicate which was notoriously known for their theft and scamming activities in Japan", it added.

The suspects were arrested in two separate operations in coordination with the Fugitive Search Unit (FSU), National Police Agency (Japan), Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group, and Ermita Police Station.

The suspects will be transferred to the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility.

"after booking and documentation procedures". Marie Manalili/DMS