Fugitive Crackdown: Korean Telecom Scammer, Japanese ‘Luffy Gang’ Member Nabs

Fugitive Crackdown: Korean Telecom Scammer, Japanese ‘Luffy Gang’ Member Nabs

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | July 2, 2026  

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has dealt a significant blow to international criminal networks by apprehending a South Korean national linked to a multi-million-dollar telecommunications fraud scheme and a high-ranking member of Japan’s notorious “Luffy Gang.” These arrests underscore the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to denying sanctuary to fugitives and upholding global justice.

Korean Fugitive Behind Multi-Million Telecom Scam Captured in Angeles City, Pampanga

A sophisticated telecommunications fraud operation spanning South Korea has been disrupted following the June 28 arrest of Park Junhyeon, 44, in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City. Park, wanted in his home country for orchestrating a “no-show” scam that defrauded seven victims of approximately KRW 170 million (about $123,000 USD) through 24 fraudulent transactions, was apprehended by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU).

This high-impact operation, conducted in precise coordination with South Korean authorities, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), and the Department of Justice, targeted Park, who is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued on May 7, 2026, following a warrant from the Busan District Court.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado declared, “This arrest sends an unequivocal message to foreign fugitives: the Philippines will not serve as a haven for criminals. Those who exploit innocent victims through calculated deception and organized fraud have no place within our borders. We will relentlessly pursue these individuals in collaboration with our international law enforcement partners to ensure they face justice.”

BI records reveal Park entered the Philippines as a temporary visitor on December 12, 2025, overstaying his authorized period, which expired on June 9, 2026. His passport had been submitted for a stay extension by a representative, a process Park notably did not personally attend. Park has been officially flagged on the BI’s watchlist as an undesirable alien. He is currently undergoing processing at the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility, pending deportation proceedings.

Japanese ‘Luffy Gang’ Leader Busted in Makati City 

In a parallel enforcement action, the BI-FSU successfully apprehended Inoue Hideharu, 56, a key figure in Japan’s infamous “Luffy Gang,” on June 23 at a condominium on P. Del Pilar Street, Makati City. Inoue is wanted in Japan for theft, associated with a syndicate known for preying on elderly victims.

This operation was meticulously coordinated with the Japanese government, the Philippine National Police–Interpol Group, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

BI FSU Chief Rendel Ryan Sy confirmed Inoue’s status as an overstaying and undesirable alien, subject to an active Japanese arrest warrant for theft. Immigration records further indicate his prior placement on the Bureau’s blacklist and watchlist as a fugitive from justice. Inoue’s alleged role as a high-ranking member and manager of the “Luffy Gang,” named after the One Piece manga character, underscores the severity of his criminal affiliations.

Commissioner Viado reiterated the BI’s steadfast resolve: “Foreign fugitives seeking to evade justice by hiding in the Philippines will find no sanctuary here. Through unwavering coordination with our international and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to track, apprehend, and remove individuals who threaten public safety and violate our immigration laws.”

The Japanese national remains in BI custody, awaiting the commencement of deportation proceedings.

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