NHK has learned that Tokyo police are set to arrest a senior member of JP Dragon, a Philippines-based criminal group, after he is deported to Japan on Tuesday.

The police have obtained an arrest warrant for 50-year-old Koyama Tomohiro on suspicion of theft in a fraud case in Japan. Koyama was detained by Philippine authorities in January.

JP Dragon was set up by former Japanese crime syndicate members. Investigators say Koyama likely had ties to the so-called Luffy group, a separate Philippines-based crime ring believed to have arranged a string of robberies in Japan.

Koyama was found to have spoken via video call with a Luffy group member who was detained in a police facility in Japan at the time.

The Luffy member, Imamura Kiyoto, is alleged to have given instructions in a series of robberies. He used a lawyer's assistance to communicate with Koyama. Imamura has been indicted on theft and other charges.

Tokyo police plan to investigate the details of Koyama's suspected activities and try to find out the connections between crime organizations in Japan and abroad, as well as the roles of each group.