Aiexpress – On February 21, the Department of Justice revealed that the leader of Japan’s Yakuza crime syndicate has been charged with attempting to sell weapons-grade nuclear materials from Burma to potential buyers from other countries.
According to reports by ABC News and The Hill, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has stated that Takeshi Ebisawa conspired in 2020 to transport uranium and plutonium with the intention of providing them to nations like Iran for the development of nuclear weapons.
“It is truly alarming to consider the potential consequences that could have unfolded if these efforts had been successful. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that those who engage in the trafficking of such materials, posing a significant threat to both U.S. national security and international stability, are held accountable,” expressed Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen in a recent news release.
Ebisawa, a 60-year-old individual, along with another defendant, faced charges of trafficking narcotics following their arrest in Manhattan in April 2022. Despite pleading not guilty to the federal charges, the pair was ordered to be detained by the U.S. circuit court judge.
In 2020, Ebisawa informed undercover law enforcement agents that he had a significant quantity of weapons-grade nuclear material available for sale. He even went so far as to provide them with photographs of the substances and Geiger counters to demonstrate the radiation levels.
According to ABC News, the indictment reveals that one of the agents informed Ebisawa about an Iranian general’s interest in purchasing nuclear materials for the purpose of building nuclear weapons. In response, Ebisawa allegedly expressed agreement and optimism, stating, “I think so and I hope so.”
According to undercover agents, the individuals implicated in the crime claimed to possess over 2,000 kilograms of Thorium-232 and more than 100 kilograms of uranium. These quantities were said to be sufficient for the production of up to 10,000 pounds of nuclear materials.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed charges against Ebisawa, accusing him of committing seven serious felonies. The charges include conspiracy to traffic nuclear materials, import narcotics, possess firearms and surface-to-air missiles, as well as money laundering. If convicted, Ebisawa could face a maximum sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment for each offense.
