Russian smuggled nuclear-bomb uranium, officials say

CNN (AP) ^ | January 24, 2007

[Ooh-Ah]

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Georgian officials and CIA's 2006 sting resulted in arrest

• Unclear how suspect, who isn't cooperating with police, got uranium

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republic of Georgia authorities, aided by the CIA, set up a sting operation last summer that led to the arrest of a Russian man who tried to sell a small amount of nuclear-bomb grade uranium in a plastic bag in his jacket pocket, U.S. and Georgian officials said.

The operation, which neither government has publicized, represents one of the most serious cases of smuggling of nuclear material in recent years, according to analysts and officials.

The arrest underscored concerns about the possibility of terrorists acquiring nuclear bomb-making material on the black market, although there was no suggestion that this particular case was terrorist-related.

"Given the serious consequences of the detonation of an improvised nuclear explosive device, even small numbers of incidents involving HEU (highly enriched uranium) or plutonium are of very high concern," said Melissa Fleming of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency.

Details of the investigation, which also involved the FBI and Energy Department, were provided to The Associated Press by U.S. officials and Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.

Authorities say they do not know how the man acquired the nuclear material or if his claims of access to much larger quantities were true. He and three Georgian accomplices are in Georgian custody and not cooperating with investigators.

Georgian attempts to trace the nuclear material since the arrest and confirm whether the man indeed had access to larger quantities have foundered from a lack of cooperation from Russia.

[penelopesire]

"He and three Georgian accomplices are in Georgian custody and not cooperating with investigators."

Where is Jack Bauer when u need him? LOL

[FreedomNeocon]

Authorities say they do not know how the man acquired the nuclear material or if his claims of access to much larger quantities were true. He and three Georgian accomplices are in Georgian custody and not cooperating with investigators.

[Pontiac]

Georgian attempts to trace the nuclear material since the arrest and confirm whether the man indeed had access to larger quantities have foundered from a lack of cooperation from Russia.

You know somehow this doesn’t surprise me. With Putin in charge Russia is Back to the Future.

[TNdandelion]

Is this stuff safe to carry around in a plastic bag in your pocket? I have no idea...that's why I'm asking.

[Reaganesque]

I had the same question so I looked it up. This is from the CDC:

Because uranium decays by alpha particles, external exposure to uranium is not as dangerous as exposure to other radioactive elements because the skin will block the alpha particles. Ingestion of high concentrations of uranium, however, can cause severe health effects, such as cancer of the bone or liver. Inhaling large concentrations of uranium can cause lung cancer from the exposure to alpha particles. Uranium is also a toxic chemical, meaning that ingestion of uranium can cause kidney damage from its chemical properties much sooner than its radioactive properties would cause cancers of the bone or liver.

So I guess he was OK to carry it around like that, so long as he didn't lick it.

[ASOC]

If he had an amount, say, equal to a large grapefruit......

[TNdandelion]

THanks!!

[M. Espinola]

Putin's Russia, what a wonderful place ........(not!)

[Tailgunner Joe]

Putin's enemies are obviously behind this just to make him look bad. This is a set-up. Probally Joos did it.