LOST RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

S E C R E T LAGOS 000351

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII
FBIHQ FOR CTD/WMDOU


E.O. 12958: DECL: X1.6
TAGS: ASEC PTER PINS PARM NI
SUBJECT: LOST RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL


Classified By: RSO J. Pelphrey. Reason 1.5 (d) and (g)



1. (S) Summary: CG, LEGATT, and RSO met with Johan Bakker,
Vice President of Haliburton Nigeria on 02/18/03. Mr. Bakker
advised the CG that a radioactive source used in logging
operations was missing. Mr. Bakker advised that the material
was approximately 18.5 curries in strength and had been
missing since late November or early December. Haliburton
and Chevrontexaco corporate investigators had been conducting
investigations, but they had not been able to determine who
took the material, exactly when or where it was taken. In
view of the current world situation, Haliburton was notifying
the Consulate. End Summary.



2. (S) CG, LEGATT, and RSO met with Johan Bakker, Vice
President of Haliburton Nigeria concerning missing
radioactive material. The material was described as
approximately four to five inches in length and one to one
and a half inches in diameter with a strength of 18.5
curries. The radioactive material is used in the oil
industry for logging operations. The material was placed in
a "pig", a cylinder approximately eighteen inches in diameter
and weighing ninety-four kilograms. The "pig" was then
placed in a box with radioactive markings on the side.



3. (S) The radioactive material had been used in oilfield
operations at a Chevrontexaco site and was supposed to be
transported back to Haliburton's operational base. The "pig"
was stored at Escavros in late November and transported to
Warri where it was picked up for transshipment to Port
Harcourt on or about December 4th. Although it is unclear
when the material was taken, the driver reportedly claimed to
a Haliburton investigator that the locks on the box
containing the "pig" were broken when the box was picked up
and placed on a flatbed truck for shipment. No other items
on the flatbed were taken or disturbed during the trip.



4. (S) The flatbed stopped overnight in a village during
the transit from Warri to Port Harcourt. Investigators, who
have tried to interview local villagers, have been
unsuccessful. Initially, Haliburton officials believed the
material may have been taken for ransom, but no demands have
been made. It is also believed that someone who may not know
what the material is may have thrown it away. There is
concern that anyone who handled the material for any length
of time may have died or is critically ill. A one meter
exposure for sixty-eight minutes is considered lethal
according to Mr. Bakker.



5. (S) Nigerian federal, state, and local authorities have
been notified of the missing radioactive material and the
IAEA has been contacted. Nigerian police are continuing
their investigation. Haliburton and Chevrontexaco brought in
investigators from London who have assisted with their
continuing investigations as well. Local populations have
been offered a fifty thousand Naira (approximately 400 USD)
reward for information leading to the return of the material.
To date, only two attempts have been made to collect the
reward and neither was considered credible.



6. (S) A report of Haliburton's attempts to recover the
material along with photos of the neutron pig and shipping
container has been forwarded to FBIHQ and will be forwarded
to the Department.
HINSON-JONES