Yakuza Boss Busted Acquiring Stolen Missile To Barter For Meth, Heroin Shipment

A Yakuza boss who had reported dealings with an armed ethnic group in Burma was arrested along with four others on Monday, April 4, after they attempted to buy heavy-duty weapons from the U.S. Army and sell heroin in the country.

Fifty-seven-year-old Takeshi Ebisawa, who is reportedly a leader within the Japanese Yakuza crime syndicate, was arrested in Manhattan on Monday along with two Thai individuals and one individual with dual U.S.-Thai citizenship when they attempted to buy weapons from an undercover agent, NBC News reported.

Ebisawa was attempting to buy leftover weapons that were stolen from a military base in Afghanistan for an armed ethnic group in Burma. Among the weapons he was considering to buy were portable M-72 light anti-tank rocket launchers, 10 M-60 machine guns, and 10 fully automatic rifles, the New York Daily News reported.

Ebisawa and his 58-year-old associate Somphop Singhasiri were also planning on selling heroin and meth to an undercover agent with the intent of selling the drugs in the streets of New York, possibly using the money in this venture to pay for the weapons being bought.

“We allege Mr. Ebisawa and his co-conspirators brokered deals with an undercover DEA agent to buy heavy-duty weaponry and sell large quantities of illegal drugs,” U.S. District Attorney Damian Williams said.

“The drugs were destined for New York streets, and the weapons shipments were meant for factions in unstable nations. Members of this international crime syndicate can no longer put lives in danger and will face justice for their illicit actions,” he continued.

The Yakuza is an international crime syndicate that is associated with various crimes such as weapons trafficking, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and money laundering. Their system emcompasses a significant part of Asia as well as the United States.

If found guilty of the charges, Ebisawa, Singhasiri, and associates Suksan “Bobby” Jullanan and Sompak Rukrasaranee will receive life in prison for their actions.