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To: mikegi
Apparently this has happened before, on a smaller scale, yet still significant. I have no knowledge of source veracity. Interestingly coincidental if true.

http://www.nti.org/db/nistraff/2000/20000880.htm

"This article analyzes the Bulgarian investigation into the 29 May 1999 seizure of 10g of HEU on the Bulgarian-Turkish border (see abstracts 19990470, 20000080, and 20000750 for earlier reports related to this incident). The article summarizes the incident, including some new information not contained in previous media accounts. Customs officers seized a metal container marked "10.0 g" from the car of Hanifi Okzan, a Turkish national who was crossing the Turkish-Bulgarian border en route to Moldova.

"During a routine examination of the car, the officers discovered two certificates in Russian, one relating to a shipment of uranium, the other to a consignment of "red mercury." When questioned about the certificates, Okzan disclaimed any knowledge of them, and said he did not know how they had come to be in his car. The customs officials then launched a more complete search of the car, and discovered the metal container concealed inside an electrical compressor in the trunk. Okzan then tried to bribe the customs officials, who refused his money and instead arrested him.

"During subsequent questioning, Okzan, who had been living in Tiraspol, Moldova, said that a Ukrainian acquaintance, whom he identified only as Igor, had given him the material, and asked him to sell it in Turkey for $400,000. Okzan then transported the material to Turkey, where he was instructed to meet with potential buyers in Ankara. When the buyers did not show up as scheduled, Okzan decided to return to Moldova, leading to his arrest on the Bulgarian-Turkish border.

"The article notes that according to Bulgarian law, the trafficking of small quantities of uranium is not a serious offense, and a Bulgarian court later released Okzan after sentencing him to a fine of 2,000 Bulgarian lev (about $900 at the December 2000 exchange rate) and two years probation. The article adds that Okzan "mysteriously" disappeared shortly after his release, and cites "unconfirmed reports" that he later died in a car accident in Moldova. etc. etc.


25 posted on 12/23/2003 6:19:02 PM PST by LurkedLongEnough (Can't we all just get a long gun?)
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