Japanese Crime Syndicate Boss Pleads Guilty to Nuclear Material Trafficking

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JAN 9

Image copyright: RONNY HARTMANN/Contributor/AFP via Getty Imagesstory last updated JAN 9

The Facts

Takeshi Ebisawa, the 60-year-old Japanese crime syndicate leader of "yakuza," pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a New York federal court to trafficking nuclear materials from Myanmar and other international crimes.
During a 2021 US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover investigation, Ebisawa attempted to sell uranium and weapons-grade plutonium to someone he believed was an Iranian general seeking materials for nuclear weapons.
The criminal operation involved sending photographs of rocky substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation and laboratory analyses showing the presence of thorium and uranium.

The Spin

Narrative A

The success of this operation demonstrates law enforcement's capability to dismantle sophisticated international criminal networks that threaten global security. The case represents a significant victory in preventing nuclear materials from falling into dangerous hands. The US DEA's unparalleled ability to infiltrate and expose complex criminal enterprises has been proven.

CNN

Narrative B

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of controlling nuclear materials in conflict zones like Myanmar, where insurgent groups can access dangerous substances. The intersection of organized crime, nuclear trafficking, and drug trade reveals dangerous security gaps in Southeast Asia. The involvement of established crime syndicates shows how traditional criminal organizations are evolving into more sophisticated threats.

Guardian