US nabs 'yakuza chief', 3 Thais buying weapons for rebels

This picture taken on January 31, 2015, shows soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union, parading as part of celebrations marking the 66th Karen Revolution Day at their headquarters in Myanmar's eastern Kayin state. (File photo: AFP)

United States authorities said on Thursday they had arrested a Japanese organised crime leader and three Thai men who were trafficking heroin and methamphetamine while also trying to acquire weaponry for rebel groups in Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Takeshi Ebisawa and the three Thais -- Sompak Rukrasaranee, Somphob Singhasiri and Suksan Jullanan -- were arrested in New York on Monday and Tuesday on narcotics and arms trafficking and money laundering charges, the Justice Department said.