AT least 180 foreign fugitives wanted in their respective homelands for various crimes were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration last year.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado said operatives of the bureau’s Fugitive’s Search Unit apprehended the outlaws in separate operations carried out in multiple locations across the country.
“Nearly all of them were already deported to their countries of origin where they are currently serving time in prison after being convicted for crimes they committed,” said FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy.
Viado commended the FSU for a job well done, saying the total number of fugitives apprehended last year was significantly higher than the 128 outlaws arrested in 2023.
Viado reiterated that there will be no let-up in the BI’s intensified campaign against wanted foreign criminals who have taken refuge in the Philippines to evade prosecution for their crimes.
“As we have repeatedly declared, the Philippines is off-limits to all foreign fugitives. This country is not a sanctuary for alien criminals. The order of the President is clear—protect our nation from external threats,” he added.
The FSU said 74 Korean nationals accounted for the bulk of the arrested aliens, followed by 62 Chinese nationals, 12 Taiwanese, 11 Japanese, seven Americans, two Italians, and two Australians.
Also in the list is a Briton, a Canadian, a German, an Indian, an Indonesian, a Jordanian, a Kyrgystani, a Liberian, a Nigerian, and a Serbian.
Offenses committed by these aliens included economic crimes, investment scams, illegal gambling, money laundering, telecommunications fraud, robbery, and narcotics trading.
Among the notable arrests was that of six Japanese members of the notorious “Luffy” gang – Takayuki Kagashima, Sawada Masaya, Ueda Koji, Sjuzuki Seiji, Kiyohara Jun, Nagaura Hiroki – who were wanted for involvement in scams, extortion and fraud activities in Japan.
Also described as high-profile arrests were those of Australian Gregor Johann Haas and Serbian Predrag Mirkovic, who were wanted for illegal drugs.
Indian-Nepalese Joginder Geong was also captured on charges of murder, extortion, and robbery.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Immigration nabs at least 180 foreign outlaws in 2024.”
