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Tuesday, Mar 17, 2026
Outside the box.
US charges yakuza gang leader over conspiring to sell nuclear material
The US has charged a Japanese yakuza crime boss with attempting to trade nuclear substances from Myanmar for funding an illegal arms transaction.
Takeshi Ebisawa, along with Somphop Singhasiri, is accused of dealing in weapons-grade nuclear materials and deadly drugs to purchase military arms for a Myanmar insurgent group, per a detailed indictment from a Manhattan court. This builds on their previous charges in April 2022 for drug and firearm offenses.
Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department highlighted the grave implications if Ebisawa's plans had succeeded, emphasizing the commitment to prosecuting such threats to US and global security. The arms deal allegedly included surface-to-air missiles.
Prosecutors claim Ebisawa trafficked uranium and plutonium, which can be used in nuclear weapons, and bragged about his nuclear material access to an undercover officer, providing evidence with radiation readings.
US and Thai enforcement conducted an operation resulting in the confiscation of substances Ebisawa identified as "yellowcake," uranium in a powdered form. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of weapons-grade plutonium.
Ebisawa, portrayed by authorities as a major yakuza figure involved in global criminal endeavors, is said to have planned to use nuclear material sales proceeds to buy weapons for a Myanmar ethnic insurgent group.
He faces a minimum of 25 years to a maximum of 20 years in prison for various charges, including seeking missiles and nuclear material trafficking. No trial date has been set.
Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department highlighted the grave implications if Ebisawa's plans had succeeded, emphasizing the commitment to prosecuting such threats to US and global security. The arms deal allegedly included surface-to-air missiles.
Prosecutors claim Ebisawa trafficked uranium and plutonium, which can be used in nuclear weapons, and bragged about his nuclear material access to an undercover officer, providing evidence with radiation readings.
US and Thai enforcement conducted an operation resulting in the confiscation of substances Ebisawa identified as "yellowcake," uranium in a powdered form. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of weapons-grade plutonium.
Ebisawa, portrayed by authorities as a major yakuza figure involved in global criminal endeavors, is said to have planned to use nuclear material sales proceeds to buy weapons for a Myanmar ethnic insurgent group.
He faces a minimum of 25 years to a maximum of 20 years in prison for various charges, including seeking missiles and nuclear material trafficking. No trial date has been set.
