A Japanese organized crime leader admitted in court to a massive scheme involving nuclear materials and narcotics.
Key Facts:
– Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to trafficking nuclear materials to Iran.
– He conspired to move weapons-grade plutonium, uranium, heroin, and methamphetamine from Burma.
– U.S. officials say he intended to trade narcotics for heavy-duty weapons taken from American military bases in Afghanistan.
– The undercover DEA investigation of Ebisawa began at least as early as 2019.
– He faces multiple charges, including narcotics importation conspiracy, which carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
The Rest of The Story:
Prosecutors describe Ebisawa as a leader within the Japanese Yakuza, a group known for international criminal operations.
He appeared in Manhattan federal court to admit his role in brokering deals for uranium, plutonium, and a large quantity of narcotics.
Investigators discovered he planned to sell these dangerous materials to individuals he believed were connected to Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The Drug Enforcement Administration used an undercover agent, posing as a weapons trafficker, to meet Ebisawa’s network of associates.
These associates spanned several countries, including Thailand, Japan, and the United States.
They allegedly attempted to arrange trades involving surface-to-air missiles and other heavy armaments in exchange for drugs and cash.
Federal officials say Ebisawa laundered what he believed to be drug money from New York to Tokyo.
Evidence shows he also tried to access plutonium, claiming it was more powerful than uranium for the purpose of creating a weapon.
One of his co-conspirators boasted of having thousands of kilograms of nuclear materials stored in Burma.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim stated that Ebisawa “brazenly trafficked nuclear material, including weapons-grade plutonium, out of Burma.”
Officials also pointed to his aim of delivering large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin to New York.
The Justice Department seized physical samples of nuclear materials that tested positive for weapons-grade plutonium, uranium, and thorium.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said Ebisawa’s guilty plea “should serve as a stark reminder to those who imperil our national security by trafficking weapons-grade plutonium and other dangerous materials on behalf of organized criminal syndicates that the Department of Justice will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Bottom Line:
Ebisawa’s admission highlights an unusually severe threat involving nuclear materials, narcotics, and large-scale weapons.
READ NEXT: Massive Hospital Group that Manages 11,000+ Doctors Files For Bankruptcy
It shows the vigilance of U.S. authorities in penetrating organized crime networks.