The US Department of Justice has charged a Japanese criminal organization leader with attempting to smuggle nuclear materials from Myanmar that could be used in Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Anne Milgram, head of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), said Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, and co-defendant Somfop Singhasiri, 61, were involved in smuggling drugs, weapons and nuclear materials. She added that they "planned to deliver uranium and weapons-grade plutonium to Iran that they expected could be used in the production of nuclear weapons."
The department said in a statement that warrants had been issued for the arrest of both men.
Deputy Attorney General Matthew Olsen said Ebisawa is accused of trafficking nuclear materials and deadly narcotics from Myanmar, as well as purchasing military weapons for an armed insurgent group.
Both men were indicted in 2022 on international drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The new charges were added to the previous indictment.
