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UN:
ILLICIT TRAFFICKING, THEFT OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS 'A PERSISTENT PROBLEM,' UN
AGENCY REPORTS: 12/9/2007 (MaximsNews.com, U.N.) |
UNITED NATIONS - / www.MaximsNews.com@
U.N./
- 12 September 2007 –
Illicit trafficking, theft and loss of nuclear
and other radioactive materials remain “a persistent problem,” according to
the United Nations agency entrusted with pre-empting nuclear and radiological
terrorism and preventing proliferation.
More
than 250 incidents involving unauthorized possession and related criminal
activities, theft or loss of nuclear or other radioactive materials, and other
activities such as unauthorized disposal of radioactive materials were reported
to the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Illicit Trafficking Database
(ITDB) last year, of which 150 occurred in 2006 and the rest mainly in 2005.
“Information
reported to the ITDB shows a persistent problem with the illicit trafficking in
nuclear and other radioactive materials, thefts, losses, and other unauthorized
activities,” the latest ITDB report said.
Of the
150 incidents that occurred in 2006, 14 involved unauthorized possession and
related criminal activities and can be described as illicit trafficking,
containing such factors as illegal possession, movement, or attempts to
illegally trade in the materials.
The
majority of these incidents involved sealed radioactive sources and the
materials included natural uranium, depleted uranium, and thorium.
In
January 2007, Georgia reported to the ITDB an incident that occurred in February
2006 and involved the seizure of 79.5 grammes of 89 per cent-enriched uranium.
Another
85 incidents in 2006 involved thefts, losses or misrouting of nuclear or other
radioactive materials. Thefts of such materials are of particular concern since
they can be upstream evidence of illicit trafficking and are indicators of
vulnerabilities in control and security systems. In about 73 per cent of cases,
the lost or stolen materials have not been reportedly recovered.
Eight of
these incidents involved high-risk “dangerous” radioactive sources that are
classified as Category 2 and 3. Another 51 reported incidents involved various
types of material recovery showing no direct evidence of criminal behaviour,
such as detection of materials disposed of in an unauthorized way.
“Uncontrolled
nuclear and other radioactive materials also are evidence of weaknesses in
control and security measures. These could be exploited by those with a
malicious intent,” the report noted.
As of 31
December2006, the ITDB contained 1,080 confirmed incidents reported by
participating States since 1993, of which 275 involved unauthorized possession
and related criminal activity, 332 involved theft or loss and 398 other
unauthorized activities.
Past
incidents of illicit trafficking involved seizures of kilogramme quantities of
weapons-usable nuclear material, but most have involved very small quantities,
the report said. “In some of these cases, there is a possibility that seized
material was a sample of larger quantities available for illegal purchase or at
risk of theft. If so, these materials pose a continuous potential security
threat,” it added.
“Where
information on motives is available, it indicates that profit seeking is the
principal motive behind such events. Some cases, however, showed an indication
of malicious intent.”
Currently,
96 States participate in the ITDB Programme. In some cases, non-participating
Member States have provided information.
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
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