UPDATE: NUCLEAR SMUGGLING INCIDENT AT KABUL,

UNCLAS KABUL 000297

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS FOR ISN/CTR AND PM/ISO/PMAT (24/7)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM KCRM PTER ASEC KCOR AF
SUBJECT: UPDATE: NUCLEAR SMUGGLING INCIDENT AT KABUL,
AFGHANISTAN

REF: KABUL 266


1. This to update the Department on Post's alert of
February 2 regarding the report by the Afghan National
Police Coordination Center (NPCC) of the Afghan National
Directorate of Security (NDS) seizure of two bottles of
uranium. Following further inspection of the bottle, an
NDS liaison officer updated the NPCC report as follows:

-- An NDS lab test determined the substance contained in
the bottles to be gun cleaning solution;

-- Both bottles were labeled in Russian and contained
visual poison warnings; and

-- The detained suspect, from whom the bottles were
seized, claimed possession of the cleaning solution from
the pre-Taliban era and hoped to sell the bottles.


2. Post finds the NDS determination to be credible and
attributes the initial Afghan designation of the substance
as uranium due to the Russian language label and poison
markings. It is unclear whether the detained suspect was
attempting to sell the bottles as uranium prior to the
seizure.


3. Any questions on this issue can be directed to Michael
Williams, Political-Military Affairs Officer, by e-mail
(williamsme3@state.gov) or telephone ( 93 700-108-163).
WOOD