The US accuses the Japanese mafia leader of allegedly shipping nuclear materials to Iran.
US authorities charge Takeshi Ebisawa, a senior Yakuza leader, and his accomplice with trafficking nuclear materials from Myanmar, raising concerns about their potential use in Iranian nuclear weapons. Read more about the case.
US authorities have leveled grave charges against Takeshi Ebisawa, a prominent figure in the Japanese crime syndicate, Yakuza. Alongside his co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, Ebisawa stands accused of conspiring to traffic nuclear materials from Myanmar, with intentions for potential use in Iranian nuclear weapons.
Anne Milgram, leading the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), expressed profound concern, stating, "This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life." The allegations extend beyond drug and weapons trafficking, as the duo reportedly delved into the realm of nuclear materials, offering uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, anticipating their deployment in nuclear armaments by Iran.
US officials believe Ebisawa to hold a significant position within the Yakuza, indicating the transnational scope of organized crime involvement. The intricate operation involved the transportation of nuclear materials from Myanmar to Thailand, where an undercover DEA agent, masquerading as a narcotics and weapons trafficker with connections to an Iranian general, facilitated the transfer.
Originating from an unidentified leader of an "ethnic insurgent group" in Myanmar engaged in uranium mining, the nuclear material found its way into the hands of traffickers like Ebisawa. Allegations suggest Ebisawa proposed the sale of uranium to fund the acquisition of deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, through the Iranian general, demonstrating the extent of the criminal network's ambitions.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded." This sentiment underscores the potential catastrophic ramifications had the trafficking scheme been successful.
Initially charged in 2022 with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses following a DEA sting operation, Ebisawa and Singhasiri now face a superseding indictment that includes the latest charges. Their arraignment is scheduled for Thursday in federal court in Manhattan.
