Japanese Yakuza Leader Charged with Trafficking Nuclear Materials

Takeshi Ebisawa, a leader of the Yakuza gang, has been charged with conspiring to traffic weapons-grade nuclear materials from Burma to other countries, including uranium and weapons-grade plutonium. He allegedly engaged with undercover agents to sell the materials, expressing interest in buyers like an Iranian general and also showing interest in buying military-grade weapons. The materials were seized by Thai authorities and confirmed to contain uranium, thorium, and plutonium. Ebisawa and his co-defendant had already been charged with narcotics trafficking offenses in 2022.