THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has deported two Japanese nationals wanted by authorities in Tokyo for robbery and fraud-related crimes, following their separate arrests earlier this year. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the deportees as Hoshino Takuya, 24, and Kunio Aihara, 62, who were turned over to Japanese law enforcement via a Japan Airlines flight to Tokyo on Thursday. Hoshino was arrested on April 22 in Las Piñas City after Japanese authorities reported him as a fugitive linked to the "Luffy" gang, a criminal group involved in theft and fraud targeting senior citizens. He allegedly posed as a police officer to coerce victims into surrendering their ATM cards, which were then used to withdraw their savings. Aihara, meanwhile, was apprehended on June 3 after Tokyo police informed the BI that he was wanted for robbery resulting in injury, a crime he allegedly committed about 30 years ago. Investigators said Aihara and his accomplices robbed and assaulted a victim, taking a wallet containing 700,000 yen. The victim reportedly sustained serious injuries that required weeks of medical care. Both fugitives were detained at the BI’s facility in Taguig City pending the resolution of their deportation cases. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said their names have been placed on the bureau’s blacklist, permanently barring them from re-entering the Philippines. “The Bureau remains committed to cooperating with international law enforcement agencies to ensure that fugitives have no safe haven in the Philippines,” Viado said.