Home / Crime and Justice / Yakuza Leader Sentenced for Nuclear Smuggling Plot
Yakuza Leader Sentenced for Nuclear Smuggling Plot
5 Mar
Summary
- Yakuza leader sentenced to 20 years for nuclear material trafficking.
- Plot aimed to supply Iran's nuclear weapons program with uranium.
- Materials included uranium, thorium, and plutonium from Myanmar.
Takeshi Ebisawa, identified as a leader within Japan's Yakuza crime syndicate, received a 20-year prison sentence on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to six charges, including conspiracy to traffic nuclear material internationally. Ebisawa was involved in a plot to sell uranium and plutonium from Myanmar, with prosecutors stating the materials were intended for Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Federal prosecutors detailed that Ebisawa and his associates sought to trade weapons-grade nuclear materials alongside illegal narcotics. They also attempted to acquire surface-to-air missiles and other armaments for an ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar. Ebisawa reportedly offered these materials to an undercover DEA agent in early 2020, inquiring about Iran's interest.
The investigation revealed Ebisawa provided photos of nuclear materials and lab test results to confidential sources and undercover agents. He also expressed interest in acquiring weapons in exchange for the nuclear substances. In February 2022, a meeting in Thailand led to the seizure of vials containing detectable quantities of uranium, thorium, and plutonium.
