A Japanese Yakuza gang member was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a New York City court after admitting to attempting to sell weapons-grade plutonium and smuggling drugs and weapons to supply armed groups in Myanmar.
On 4 March 2026, a federal court in New York City sentenced 61-year-old Takeshi Ebisawa, a member of Japan's Yakuza crime syndicate, to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of trafficking nuclear materials, as well as drugs and weapons. Ebisawa had been in police custody since April 2022, along with Thai co-defendant Sompop Singhasiri, in a drug and weapons case following a multi-year investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In February 2024, he was accused of attempting to sell military-grade nuclear materials alongside smuggling drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine, with proceeds intended to purchase weapons including surface-to-air missiles for armed groups in Myanmar.
Reports state that Ebisawa pleaded guilty to six counts in January last year. One charge detailed his attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and his plan to bring large quantities of drugs into New York City.
The assistant U.S. attorney for national security stated, “Takeshi Ebisawa must be held accountable for his crimes, including his attempt to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran and flooding New York City with dangerous drugs.”
This case is regarded as one of the most serious transnational crimes, involving organized crime networks, war weapons, and trafficking of high-grade hazardous materials.
Source: Japan Times
Photo credit: U.S. Department of Justice