6 people detained in Moldova for smuggling uranium-235, used to make nuclear arm

June 30, 2011

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6 people detained in Moldova for smuggling uranium-235, used to make nuclear

arms

By Corneliu Rusnac, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 2 hours 56

minutes ago

...CHISINAU, Moldova - Six people have been detained for smuggling an unspecified

amount of the form of uranium that can be used to make a nuclear weapon, an

official said.

Interior Ministry official Vitalie Briceag said Wednesday the uranium-235 was

brought in from Russia. He said the smugglers were trying to sell it to a North

African country for €20 million ($28.85 million).

Uranium-235 makes up less than 1 per cent of natural uranium. Highly enriched

uranium — which is used to arm nuclear weapons — is 90 per cent or more

uranium-235.

The International Atomic Energy Agency considers 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of

uranium-235 a " significant quantity " — technical language for the amount needed

to make a nuclear bomb.

Television channel ProTV Chisinau posted on their Web site a video released by

the Interior Ministry showing one of the smugglers talking with an undercover

police officer who claimed he was interested in buying the uranium. One of the

smugglers told the policeman they could provide one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of

uranium, but not the whole quantity at once, according to the video.

IAEA officials contacted shortly after the detentions were reported said they

had no immediate comment.

Four detainees are Moldovan citizens, one is Russian and another is from

Moldova's separatist Trans-Dniester region, Briceag said. He said the uranium

was kept in a lead cylinder, adding more information will be disclosed after an

investigation is conducted in a Western country.

In 2010, Moldovan authorities arrested three people who were trying to sell

nearly two kilograms of uranium-238 worth €9 million ($13 million) on the black

market. The amount was too small — and not radioactive enough — to be used in a

" dirty bomb. "

___

Jahn in Vienna contributed to this report.

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