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Kazakh customs detains man with cesium-137
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| Abstract Number: |
20060290 |
| Headline: |
Kazakhstan customs officers
detain Chinese man with radioactive material |
| Date: |
14 November 2006 |
| Bibliography:
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ITAR-TASS |
| Author: |
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| Orig. Src.:
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Report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS |
| Case:
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| Material:
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Radioactive material |
Abstract:
According to a 14 November 2006 report in ITAR-TASS, 500
grams of cesium-137 were seized by Kazakh custom
inspectors from a Chinese citizen by the name of Jingys Merey while he was
traveling by bus into China via the Maykapchagay customs checkpoint in the East
Kazakhstan Region on 13 November 2006.[1,2]
The Kazakh Emergency Situations Ministry reported to ITAR-TASS that the
unlabeled, black-colored piece of metal was found in Mr. Merey's bag, which was
emitting gamma radiation at a dose rate of 22.67 microsieverts per hour,
exceeding permitted radiation levels by 109 times. According to media reports,
the investigation established that the metal is cesium-137.[1,2]
Kazakh officials had the metal piece placed in a sealed lead container and taken
it to the Ulba Metallurgy Plant in Kazakhstan for further examination.[1,2]
The Chinese citizen has reportedly been detained on suspicion of smuggling
rare-earth metals. He has not yet disclosed the origins of the piece of metal in
question,
but claimed to have been carrying it across the border "here and there"
throughout an entire year.[1]
Sources: [1] "Kazakh customs officers detain Chinese man with radioactive
material," ITAR-TASS, 14 November 2006,
http://www.itar-tass.com. [2] "Kazakhstanskiye
pogranichiki zaderzhali grazhdanina KNR s 0,5 kg radioaktivnogo metalla"
[Kazakhstani customs officers arrested a Chinese citizen with 0.5 kg of
radioactive metal"], Pravda, 14 November 2006,
http://www.pravda.ru.{Entered 06/26/07 SG}
The
Center for Nonproliferation Studies has not verified the accuracy or veracity
of this report or the facts presented therein. For more information
on the material in this database please contact Dr. Scott Parrish at sparrish@miis.edu.
 This material is produced independently for NTI
by the 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, agents. Copyright © 2003 by MIIS.
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