POSSIBLE NUCLEAR SMUGGLING INCIDENT/OFFER OF

UNCLAS LONDON 004311

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KCRM KNNP MNUC PARM PREL PTER UK
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE NUCLEAR SMUGGLING INCIDENT/OFFER OF
NUCLEAR OR OTHER RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

REF: SECSTATE 06 163201


1. (SBU) Post wishes to alert the Department and Washington
agencies per reftel that it has received a report indicating
a potential incident of illicit trafficking in and possible
offer of nuclear and/or radiological materials. This report
came to post's attention via call-in and email. Information
concerning this report was relayed telephonically to PMAT at
0715 GMT on 11/21/07.


2. (SBU) Details of the incident follow:

A) The current location of the material: reportedly in the
Philippines
B) Transport status of the material: unknown
C) Assessment of the likelihood that the appropriate
authorities can/will secure the material: UK and Philippine
authorities have not yet been notified.
D) If in transit, means of transport: unknown if in transit
E) Intended destination of material: unknown
F) Routing of material: unknown
G) Supplier and/or origination point of material: unknown
H) Type of material: reportedly Uranium
I) Date and time of incident: phone message received at
approximately 1100 hours GMT on 11/20/07; call-in received at
approximately 1200 hours GMT on 11/20/07; email with photos
received at approximately 1700 hours on 11/20/07.
J) Source of report: 2 call-ins, followed up with an email.
K) If an alarm, type: N/A
L) What else, if anything was being smuggled with the
material: N/A
M) Specific place where alarm or incident occurred: N/A
N) Additional details: At approximately 1100 hours GMT on
11/20/07, a phone message was received by Post's Foreign
Service National Investigator (FSNI) Unit from a male stating
he had information in regard to the sale of Uranium that
formerly belonged to the US. He also stated he had
previously sent faxes to the Embassy and the CIA, but as yet
had not received a response. The source left a contact phone
number of: 077-4766-5157 (UK number). At approximately 1200
hours GMT on 11/20/07, the FSNI unit received a phone call
from subject, Steve SARGISON, stating he had worked with
divers in the Philippines previously and was recently
contacted by them with information that they had found 5-6
Uranium "bricks" at the sight of an underwater wreck.
SARGISON stated his contacts expressed a desire to sell the
"bricks" for profit. At approximately 1700 hours GMT on
11/20/07, an unclassified email was received to the RSO
Investigation Unit's mail box from SARGISON at
ssargison@ssargison.plus.com, Attached to the email were 9
photos of the substance in question.


3. (SBU) Action officer at post for handling incident is
ARSO Victoria Anzaldua, reachable via 011-44-207-894-0843 or
011-44-770-238-4371 and anzalduavm@state.gov and/or
anzalduavm@state.sgov.gov.

Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle