Takeshi Ebisawa, a high-ranking member of the Yakuza criminal syndicate, has pleaded guilty to trafficking weapons-grade nuclear materials, narcotics, and heavy weaponry in an international conspiracy. Ebisawa, 60, was exposed through a years-long undercover investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges in 2024, revealing that Ebisawa attempted to sell uranium and weapons-grade plutonium sourced from Myanmar to an undercover agent posing as an Iranian general interested in Tehran’s nuclear weapons program. The proceeds from the deal were intended to fund the supply of missiles to insurgent groups in Myanmar.
Ebisawa was arrested in 2022 in New York, where he was negotiating a weapons deal with associates. Initially charged with drug trafficking and arms sales, the charges expanded to include the trafficking of nuclear materials and procuring heavy weaponry like surface-to-air missiles.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Kim emphasized the gravity of Ebisawa’s actions, stating, “At the same time, he worked to send massive quantities of heroin and methamphetamine to the United States in exchange for heavy-duty weaponry such as surface-to-air missiles to be used on battlefields in Burma.”
The Yakuza, a Japanese transnational crime syndicate with roots over 300 years old, is known for its involvement in a range of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and organized extortion. Today, the Yakuza operates globally, expanding its criminal influence across continents.
As Ebisawa awaits sentencing, the case continues to shed light on the Yakuza’s extensive criminal network and its growing involvement in international trafficking of both illicit drugs and dangerous weaponry.
