Photo/Illutration Yuki Watanabe, 38, at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Feb. 9 (Hiroyuki Yamamoto)

Two key suspects in the “Luffy” crime spree were arrested in midair on Feb. 9 after being deported from the Philippines.

The Metropolitan Police Department executed the arrest warrants against Yuki Watanabe, 38, and Tomonobu Kojima, 45.

The warrants were related to a fraud case that targeted a man in his 70s living in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward.

In November 2019, the man received phone calls from people pretending to be a police officer and an employee of the Financial Services Agency. He ended up losing two ATM cards and cash.

Police suspect Watanabe arranged the swindle while Kojima was his No. 2, who collected and stored the stolen money.

However, Tokyo police believe Watanabe and Kojima were also behind other fraudulent schemes as well as a string of violent robberies committed in Japan.

They had been detained at an immigration center in Manila together with Kiyoto Imamura, 38, and Toshiya Fujita, 38.

Imamura and Fujita were deported to Japan on Feb. 7 and arrested by Tokyo police during the flight in connection with the fraud investigation.

Police believe that the suspects, while in the Philippines, used the Telegram communication app to give instructions for the robberies in Japan. The leaders used the names “Luffy” and “Kim.”

Philippine authorities have provided Tokyo police with about 15 smartphones and tablets believed to have been used by the four while in detention.

In July 2019, Japanese police obtained arrest warrants for Watanabe, Kojima and Imamura, and one for Fujita in February 2021.

Investigators had asked the Philippines to deport the four to Japan. Manila finally agreed after charges against them in the country were dismissed.

The plane carrying Watanabe and Kojima departed Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12:20 a.m. on Feb. 9.

Wearing black vests believed to be bulletproof, the suspects boarded the plane with investigators dispatched by the Metropolitan Police Department.

Their seats were sealed off with green sheets so other passengers could not take a peek.

The plane entered Japanese airspace at 2:18 a.m., and about five minutes later, police arrested the two.

Before the plane landed at Haneda Airport at 4:50 a.m., the green sheets were removed.

Kojima seemed concerned about reporters and other passengers looking at him.

At the arrival gate surrounded by investigators, the suspects kept their heads down.

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