Japanese Yakuza Leader Pleads Guilty to Nuclear Material and Drug Trafficking in U.S. Court

Takeshi Ebisawa admitted to smuggling weapons-grade nuclear materials from Myanmar and conspiring to trade drugs for military arms, exposing a global criminal network.

• Takeshi Ebisawa, a leader within Japan's Yakuza crime syndicate, pled guilty in a New York court to trafficking nuclear materials, including uranium and plutonium, sourced from Myanmar.
• Ebisawa conspired to exchange drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine for military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, for armed insurgent groups in Myanmar.
• The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) infiltrated Ebisawa's network over three years, with undercover agents posing as buyers and intermediaries, including a purported Iranian general.
• Prosecutors revealed plans to sell nuclear materials to Iran, raising significant concerns about potential threats to international security and stability.
• Ebisawa's sentencing, which will determine his punishment for these crimes, has not yet been scheduled by the court.

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