Top Member of JP Dragon Detained During Birthday Party

Jun 06, 2025 | News On Japan

Angeles, Jun 06, 2025 (News On Japan) - A Japanese man believed to be the leader of the crime group known as "JP Dragon" was taken into custody in the Philippines during his birthday celebration, with exclusive video footage showing the moment local authorities stormed the party and arrested the suspect without resistance.

JNN has obtained exclusive surveillance footage that was recorded on June 4th at a resort in Pampanga Province, north of Manila. The footage shows a lively gathering underway when investigators entered the premises.

The man arrested was Ryuji Yoshioka, identified as the head of JP Dragon, a Japanese criminal group suspected of involvement in large-scale fraud and illegal gambling operations. Yoshioka was seen embracing family members and did not resist arrest. He had reportedly been celebrating his own birthday at the time.

JP Dragon is believed to have close ties with the so-called "Luffy group," which has been linked to a string of violent robberies across Japan. Japanese police have already obtained a warrant for Yoshioka's arrest and are expected to request his extradition from the Philippine authorities.

According to officials from the Philippine immigration bureau, 55-year-old Ryuuji Yoshioka was taken into custody on June 4th in Angeles, Pampanga Province, near the capital Manila. Yoshioka is accused of leading the JP Dragon group, which is made up of Japanese nationals allegedly involved in so-called "special fraud" operations, such as phone scams. Japanese police had issued a warrant for his arrest on theft charges.

The JP Dragon group has been the subject of increasing law enforcement action. Last year, its number-three figure, Tomohiro Koyama, was arrested. Just last month, seven other members were also taken into custody, underscoring a growing crackdown on the group’s activities.

Authorities believe JP Dragon has close ties with the so-called "Luffy group," which was behind a string of violent robberies in Japan and is also thought to have been coordinating operations from the Philippines.

Source: TBS

Woman Dies After Car Flooded in Underpass

A woman in her 60s died after her car was submerged in a flooded underpass in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, as record rainfall caused widespread flooding, landslides and transport disruption across Kanto and surrounding areas on September 7, with authorities warning that further rain was expected during the evening commute.

All of Ishinomaki City Ordered to Evacuate as Rain Pounds Tohoku

An evacuation order has been issued for the entire city of Ishinomaki and parts of Marumori in Miyagi Prefecture as heavy rain caused by the autumn rain front disrupts transportation across the region, with a linear rainband potentially forming along the Pacific side of Tohoku through the evening.

Yokohama Mayor Resigns Over Power Harassment Allegations

Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka resigned on September 7 after the city assembly unanimously approved his request to step down over allegations of workplace power harassment, setting the stage for a mayoral election in October.

Typhoon No. 24 Nears Minami-Daito Before Weakening Into Tropical Depression

Typhoon No. 24 (Krovahn) was near Minami-Daito Island, about 300 kilometers southeast of Okinawa, as of 3 a.m. on September 7, moving east-northeast at about 10 kilometers per hour and expected to weaken into a tropical depression by the afternoon, although strong winds and high waves were forecast to persist before its remnants move north and potentially intensify the autumn rain front over western and eastern Japan later in the week.

Tokyo Unveils Design for Symbol Tree at Shinjuku Station

Tokyo has unveiled the design for a major redevelopment of the plaza outside Shinjuku Station's west exit, with a landmark tree, water-play area and event space planned as part of a transformation centered on "greenery, light and people" that is scheduled for completion in 2035.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Man Arrestted Over Six Suspicious Fires in Tokyo

A 58-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a home in Tokyo's Adachi Ward on September 4, injuring an 81-year-old woman, as police investigate whether he was involved in six suspicious fires reported in the area over about two weeks.

Police Probe Deadly Cake Shop Fire in Gifu

Three people died and two others were injured in a suspected arson and stabbing at a cake shop in Motosu, Gifu Prefecture, where the 66-year-old female owner had gathered with nine former junior high school classmates on September 5, with police investigating whether a 70-year-old company executive who was apparently not invited to the gathering was involved.

Prince Hisahito Turns 20, Pursuing Interest in Maps

Prince Hisahito, the only son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 20 on September 6, as he continues to take part in a growing range of official duties as an adult member of Japan's Imperial Family.

How Teens Get Pulled Into Dark Jobs

Young people recruited into illegal "dark part-time jobs" through social media and friends are increasingly becoming involved in fraud and violent robberies across Japan, with interviews at a juvenile training school revealing how the promise of easy money, a desire for recognition and fear of criminal groups can gradually leave them feeling unable to escape.

Serial Arsonist Targets Tokyo's Adachi Ward

Tokyo police are investigating the possibility of a serial arson spree after six suspicious fires were reported within about two weeks in the same neighborhood of Adachi Ward, leaving an 81-year-old woman with burns and damaging homes, political party posters, a vending machine and a bicycle.

Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Stabbing Girlfriend to Death

A 52-year-old restaurant operator was sentenced to 17 years in prison on September 4 for killing his former girlfriend by repeatedly stabbing her in the abdomen and back with two kitchen knives at his home in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture.

Drunk Chinese Man Who Ran Over Four Kids Admits Driving Without License

A Chinese man who received a suspended prison sentence and had his driver's license revoked after striking four elementary school students while driving drunk in 2025 admitted at his first trial on September 3 that he repeatedly drove without a license while still on probation.

Former Emperor's Funeral to Be Significantly Scaled Back

The Imperial Household Agency is considering holding a significantly scaled-down funeral for former Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, reflecting his wishes to minimize disruption to the lives of the public.

< 2 3 4 5 >