Radioactive Cargo with Semi-precious Stone Charoit Seized in Belarus

Feb. 10, 2006

Abstract:

A cargo containing three tons of charoit [a semi-precious stone found in Sakha Republic in Russia] was detained by Belarusian customs officials at a train station in the Belarusian city of Brest on 10 February 2006, ITAR-TASS reported. The cargo was en route from Russia to the Czech Republic.[1]

According to the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency situations, background radiation near some of the stones was four times higher than the norm, but dropped to normal level three to five meters away from the cargo. The container with the stones was transported to a temporary storage depot. Belarusian State Customs Committee and the Procurator's Office are conducting an investigation.

[Charoit, also known as charoite, is naturally slightly radioactive.]

Source:

[1]"Belorusskaya tamozhnya zaderzhala radioaktivnyy gruz kamney iz Rossii [Belarusian Custom Detained a Radioactive Cargo with Stones from Russia]," Vzglyad, 10 February 2006; in Integrum Techno database, www.integrum.ru.

Abstract Number: 20060040
Headline: Radioactive Cargo with Semi-precious Stone Charoit Seized in Belarus
Date: 10 February 2006
Bibliography: ITAR-TASS; in Integrum Techno database, www.integrum.ru
Material: Scam/Contaminated materials

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.

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