Chinese Citizen Detained in Irkutsk with Uranium Ore

Oct. 21, 2009

Abstract:

A news report released on 21 October 2009 revealed that in September 2009, customs officials at the Irkutsk airport detained a Chinese citizen for possession of six pieces of ore containing natural uranium.
The Chinese traveler set-off the Yantar (Amber) radiation detection system when passing through the customs zone. The system picked up levels of 3.58 microgray per hour when examining the rocks, compared to the normal background radiation level of .12 microgray per hour.

The investigative department of the Irkutsk airport is currently handling the case, although it was not reported whether the suspect remained in custody. The suspect would face prosecution under Part 2 of Article 188 of the Criminal Code (smuggling). {Entered PH}

Abstract Number: 20090210
Headline: Chinese Citizen Detained in Irkutsk with Uranium Ore
Date: 21 October 2009
Bibliography: "V Irkutske zaderzhan kitayets s gruzom uranovoy rudy," Lenta.ru, 21 October 2009, http://www.lenta.ru/news/2009/10/21/chinese/.
Material: Uraniuml

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright © 2011 by MIIS.

About

This article is part of a collection examining reported incidents of nuclear or radioactive materials trafficking in or originating from the Newly Independent States.