Ukrainian police seizes mercury and cesium-137 from individual

Nov. 11, 2007

Abstract:

Ukrainian law enforcement officials seized a 32-kilogram container of cesium-137 from a 46-year old resident of Lugansk, Ukraine. The material was reportedly in a metallic yellow container labeled "made in the USSR." The container was stored in the trunk of a car the individual’s garage. The man claimed that he had been given the container some time ago free of charge. However, he stated that he had recently been approached with an offer to sell this material for 20 thousand U.S. dollars.

In addition, in the same garage, the police discovered 7 vials of varying sizes, which contained a material that reportedly looked like mercury. The individual had indicated that the materials were stored for household use. Search of another garage, owned by the same man, revealed a sealed metallic canister weighing approximately 70 kilograms; its content was unknown. Analysis of all of the seized materials and an investigation were in progress.{Entered 09/23/08 AL}

Abstract Number: 20070400
Headline: Ukrainian police seizes mercury and cesium-137 from individual
Date: 11 November 2007
Bibliography: "U zhitelya Luganska v garazhe nashli 32 kg tseziya i 70 kg rtuti," proUA.com, 29 November 2007; in Integrum Techno, www.integrum.ru.
Material: Cesium-137

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.