The Philippine government finally deported a high-profile fugitive arrested in Bacolod City, who was wanted for terrorism, murder and organized crime in India, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The suspect, Joginder Gyong, also known as Gupta Kant, was apprehended by the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) at Santa Lucia Gardens Subdivision, Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, on July 8 last year.
Bacolod Licensing Center chief Joseph Danoy had confirmed that a driver’s license was issued to Kant Gupta, the fake name of Joginder Geong, in 2022 when their licensing office was still located at Cottage Road in Bacolod City.
Gyong was deported from Manila on February 1, traveling via Bangkok to New Delhi, where he was immediately taken into custody by Indian authorities, the BI said in a press statement..
His arrest is expected to provide further intelligence on international terror-crime networks, the BI said.
Gyong, a known leader of an organized crime syndicate, is linked to numerous violent crimes, including multiple murders, extortion, and arms trafficking, the BI added.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado lauded the coordinated efforts between Philippine and Indian authorities, emphasizing the significance of Gyong’s deportation.
“This operation sends a clear message – criminals and terrorists will find no safe haven in the Philippines,” Viado said.
“Gyong was a serious threat, and we ensured his removal from our country”, Viado said
The FSU, acting on intelligence from Indian authorities, tracked down and arrested Gyong in Bacolod.
He had been living under a false identity, using a fraudulently acquired Nepalese passport under the name Kant Gupta. He was the subject of an Interpol red notice and an open arrest warrant issued by Indian courts, the BI said.
Gyong has been implicated in at least 26 serious criminal cases across multiple states in India, it said.
His offenses include murder, attempted murder, extortion, and kidnapping for ransom. He is also accused of procuring illegal firearms, organizing contract killings, and leading an extensive extortion network targeting businessmen and professionals, the BI added.
One of his most notorious crimes was orchestrating the 2017 murder of Jaidev Sharma in retaliation for the police killing of his brother, Surender Gyong, the BI said.
Investigations revealed that Gyong played a key role in India’s underground criminal syndicates, working closely with terror-linked networks. Authorities suspect he facilitated weapons and narcotics smuggling, harboring fugitives, and laundering illicit funds, the BI added.
The BI reaffirmed its commitment to preventing the Philippines from becoming a refuge for criminals. “We will continue working closely with international partners to uphold immigration laws and bring fugitives to justice,” Viado said.*