Ebisawa allegedly conspired to traffic weapons-grade nuclear materials, including uranium and plutonium, from Burma to other countries, such as Iran, for use in their nuclear weapons program. According to prosecutors, Ebisawa engaged in discussions with undercover agents in early 2020, boasting about having access to a "large quantity" of nuclear materials for sale.

The 60-year-old Japanese national, along with a co-defendant, had previously faced charges related to narcotics trafficking offenses in April 2022. Further investigations unveiled that Ebisawa expressed interest in selling military-grade weapons, such as surface-to-air missiles, to an insurgent group in Burma.

In a meeting arranged by Ebisawa with the undercover agents in Southeast Asia, his co-conspirators showcased samples of nuclear materials stored in plastic containers, later seized by Thai authorities and handed over to U.S. law enforcement. The samples were tested and confirmed to contain uranium, thorium, and plutonium.

Anne Milgram, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, condemned the defendants for trafficking in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material with complete disregard for human life. She emphasized that the allegations against Ebisawa and his associates, offering uranium and plutonium to Iran for nuclear weapons, showcase the extreme depths of depravity drug traffickers are willing to go to.