The Arrest of JP Dragon’s Top Member Tomohiro Koyama and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Tactics

On November 19, a man was extradited to Japan.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested Tomohiro Koyama (50), a senior member of the group ‘JP Dragon’ based in the Philippines, on charges of theft. Koyama was forcibly repatriated from the Philippines to Japan on this day.

The theft in question occurred in April 2019. Koyama allegedly posed as a police officer, calling a woman in her 50s in Tokyo and discussing the unauthorized use of her bank account. He reportedly received eight of her cash cards and withdrew 700,000 yen.

In addition, JP Dragon, where Koyama was effectively the third-in-command, had been involved in various crimes such as fraud and robbery in the Philippines. The group’s leader has been active in the country’s underworld for over 30 years. Koyama was also linked to the ‘Rufi incident’ of 2023, where he was involved in a scheme to silence a detainee, as confirmed through a video call from a detention center

 

From a pawn in the field to a major executive

It is believed that the Rufi group had been paying tribute to JP Dragon, a connection that had been pointed out in the past. Philippine law enforcement officials provide further details about Tomohiro Koyama, one of the leaders of ‘JP Dragon’:

“Koyama originally came from a different group, where he was well-known as a ‘caller’ for fraud schemes. However, around 2019, when a large-scale crackdown on fraud groups occurred in the Philippines, he transferred to ‘JP Dragon.’ He continued working as a caller and eventually rose to the position of third-in-command. Though physically large, Koyama was known for his sharp intellect rather than physical strength. Even back then, his speaking skills were exceptional.”

Regarding the current theft charges, Koyama’s stance on the allegations remains unclear. After arriving in Japan, Koyama was taken to the Shibuya police station, where, upon being approached by the press, he covered his face, making it impossible to discern his expression.

Law enforcement aims to use this case to tackle the rising number of dark side part-time job crimes. Investigators suggest that the forced repatriation of Koyama and two other suspects, involved in fraud activities in Cambodia, may provide a lead. The police are investigating the possibility that crime groups based in the Philippines and Cambodia, including remnants of the Rufi group, may be directing such criminal activities. The real objective behind this operation is to gather information from Koyama and other key figures.

As of November 4, 2024, there have been 23 cases related to these dark side part-time job crimes in the Kanto region. Of these, 15 cases have led to the arrest of 39 individuals. Despite these efforts, new cases continue to emerge, prompting a strong call for a swift resolution to prevent further victims.