JP Dragon and Luffy Gang Remnants Still Active — A Look into Today’s Philippine Underworld

“Yoshioka has been caught.” — For any Japanese person familiar with the Philippine capital of Manila, this news surely came as a shock. Yoshioka had been operating behind the scenes as a mastermind in the local underworld for over 20 years.

[Read the first part here: Even after the JP Dragon leader was arrested, Japanese crime syndicates continue to stir in the shadows of the Philippine underworld.]

Even in the Hidekazu Nagai honey trap case

What kind of organization is JP Dragon? Last year, while Koyama was being held in an immigration facility, I flew to Manila and met with him.

“There are about 10 members. We’re a company that properly pays taxes in the Philippines.”

He didn’t go into detail, but regarding his relationship with Masato (Kiyoto) Imamura (41), a senior figure in the Luffy robbery group, he admitted, “We’re both from Hokkaido, so I knew him from back when we were in Japan. When Imamura was being held at Harajuku Police Station, we even had a video call through a lawyer.” On the other hand, he defended Yoshioka like this:

“He’s just a normal guy. People say he’s a criminal or a murderer, but that’s impossible.”

Still, in response to Yoshioka’s arrest, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued a statement:

“Yoshioka’s arrest has effectively dismantled their base of operations in the Philippines.”

It’s possible the leader’s arrest could weaken the organization. However, the so-called bad Japanese in Manila aren’t so easily wiped out.

“The first time I heard the name ‘Yoshioka’ was in the late 1990s. He worked in a legitimate business renting out heavy machinery, but behind the scenes, he was rumored to have ties with organized crime. He dressed very flashily. I’ve heard from my Japanese business acquaintances that they were threatened and extorted by him. He gave off a very dangerous vibe.”

A former employee of a local company who once lived in Manila recalled those times.

In the 2000s, incidents of Japanese tourists falling victim to honey trap schemes in Manila’s nightlife districts became frequent. A young Filipina, often working in the nightlife industry, would be brought to a hotel, where suddenly a police officer would appear, accuse the tourist of being with a minor, and demand a large amount of money in exchange for avoiding arrest. Yoshioka’s presence was rumored to be behind these setups as well.

One of the victims was former comedian and now Nishitokyo City Assembly member Hidekazu Nagai (55). In May 2007, Nagai was approached by men claiming to be police officers after being accused of committing an indecent act with a young girl. He transferred 11 million yen to a designated bank account. It is said that the woman involved had been arranged for him by “I”, one of Yoshioka’s subordinates. In fact, Nagai had met “I” in Manila, but Yoshioka himself never appeared. Since he wasn’t a direct perpetrator, there’s no evidence clearly linking him to the crime. He always remained a figure in the shadows.

The remnants remain at large

Yoshioka is believed to have exploited his connections with local law enforcement and influential figures as a get-out-of-jail-free card, while coercing his close associates to participate in extortion schemes one after another. A senior official from the Bureau of Immigration stated:

“Yoshioka is connected to a powerful figure with immense political influence in Pampanga Province, where he was arrested.”

If that individual intervenes on Yoshioka’s behalf, there remains a possibility that he could be released.

Furthermore, Yoshioka has been sued locally by a Filipino entrepreneur over an investment fraud case, making it uncertain whether he will be immediately deported. Even if deportation occurs, remnants of both the JP Dragon group and the Luffy gang continue to lurk within the Philippines.

One such figure is the aforementioned Number 2, “Y.” In April 2023, he was suspected of orchestrating a scheme in which four cash cards were stolen from an 89-year-old man in Saitama Prefecture by someone impersonating a police officer. At the time, Y was reportedly working with Koyama and over ten others. A Japanese resident familiar with local affairs shared:

“Y was publicly known as Yoshioka’s business partner. While running cockfighting operations together, he secretly distributed money acquired through special frauds committed in Japan to other group members. Even with Yoshioka’s arrest, Y will likely continue extorting and defrauding Japanese nationals from within the Philippines.”

Another key figure is a 34-year-old Japanese woman “I” from Shizuoka Prefecture, who has allegedly been hiding in the Philippines for the past five years and is said to have formed an organization known as the “Female JP Dragon.” A former phone scammer who knew her revealed:

“She was incredibly skilled at impersonating officials from the Financial Services Agency during scam calls.”

In addition, when cross-referenced with the deportation target list I obtained, there are still around ten known criminals hiding somewhere in the Philippines. The immigration official commented:

“We’re still actively tracking Y and the others, but at present we don’t have any solid leads.”

So far this year alone, over ten suspects involved in special fraud cases have already been arrested in the Philippines. In July of last year, four Japanese men based in Cambodia were apprehended in Manila, revealing that perpetrators previously scattered across Southeast Asia were now fleeing to the Philippines. The reason many chose the country as their refuge was due to the presence of intermediaries who could help secure hideouts. There’s concern that more foreign criminal groups will continue flowing into the country in the future.

Even after capturing a crime syndicate boss, completely eradicating these fraud rings will take significant time. And Yoshioka, by any means necessary, is likely to make his way back to his second home — the Philippines.

(Honorifics have been omitted in some parts of the text.)

Takehide Mizutani

Born in 1975 in Mie Prefecture. He won the 9th Kaikō Ken Nonfiction Award for The Men Who Abandoned Japan: Destitute Japanese Living in the Philippines. After working as a reporter for the Daily Manila Shimbun, he has continued his reporting activities around the world, including coverage of the war in Ukraine.

From “FRIDAY”, July 11, 2025 issue.