A high-ranking member of the Japanese Yakuza crime syndicate has been arrested in Manhattan on charges of international narcotics and weapons trafficking.
Takeshi Ebisawa, a Japanese national, was arrested on April 4, 2022, alongside other associates, including Somphop Singhasiri, Sukasan Jullanan, and Sompak Rukrasaranee. The group is accused of brokering deals for the purchase of surface-to-air missiles, as well as other heavy-duty weaponry, and the sale of large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine.
According to the allegations, Ebisawa introduced an undercover DEA agent to associates within his international criminal network, which spans multiple countries, including Japan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the United States. The network is involved in various criminal activities, including weapons trafficking, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and money laundering.
The defendants are accused of conspiring to broker the purchase of surface-to-air missiles and other heavy-duty weaponry for multiple ethnic armed groups in Burma. They also allegedly agreed to accept large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine for distribution as partial payment for the weapons.
In addition, Ebisawa and Singhasiri are accused of conspiring to sell 500 kilograms of methamphetamine and 500 kilograms of heroin to the undercover agent for distribution in New York. The DEA has been investigating Ebisawa since at least 2019 in connection with large-scale narcotics and weapons trafficking.
The defendants were presented before Magistrate Judge Jennifer Willis on April 5, 2022, and were ordered detained. Ebisawa, a Japanese national, is a leader within the Japanese transnational organized crime syndicate also known as Yakuza.
This case represents a significant blow to the international crime syndicate, and the defendants will face justice for their illicit actions. The DEA, along with its U.S. and international partners, is committed to targeting and bringing to justice violent criminals who lead transnational drug trafficking organizations.
Defendant: Takeshi Ebisawa
Criminal Charges: International Narcotics and Weapons Trafficking
City and State: New York
Exact Date: April 4, 2022
Sentence or Outcome: Detained pending trial
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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