Japanese Yakuza Leader Charged with Trafficking Nuclear Materials

The Department of Justice has charged Takeshi Ebisawa, a high-ranking member of the Yakuza, with conspiring to traffic nuclear materials from Burma to other countries, alleging that he showed samples of nuclear materials in Thailand to an undercover agent and negotiated for the acquisition of surface-to-air missiles. Ebisawa and his co-defendant are also facing charges related to international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses, and if convicted, Ebisawa could face up to life in prison.