Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KOLKATA64
2008-02-20 12:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
BIHAR POLICE SEIZE FOUR KILOGRAMS OF SUSPECTED URANIUM
how-toVZCZCXRO2457 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0064 0511221 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 201221Z FEB 08 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1891 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1770 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0815 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0810 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0535 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0542 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2309
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000064
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/CTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY PARM PGOV IN
SUBJECT: BIHAR POLICE SEIZE FOUR KILOGRAMS OF SUSPECTED URANIUM
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000064
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/CTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY PARM PGOV IN
SUBJECT: BIHAR POLICE SEIZE FOUR KILOGRAMS OF SUSPECTED URANIUM
1. (SBU) On February 19, Bihar Police seized approximately four
kilograms of what they believe may be low-grade uranium in the
Supaul district near the Indo-Nepal border. The Bihar police
arrested six people connected with the smuggling operation,
including a Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) constable posted in Assam.
[Note: SSB is a paramilitary force that guards the Indo-Nepal
border. End Note.] After the arrest, the suspects reportedly
confessed that they were carrying uranium, but test results on
the material (which was handed over to the Indian Army) could
take two-to-three days. The SSB Director General told post that
the material was housed in a package labeled "Fool's Gold - Made
in Japan," and the suspects apparently planned to smuggle the
substance across the border into Nepal.
2. (SBU) The arrested men indicated that the alleged uranium
came from the northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. Uranium in
Meghalaya's mines is generally considered to be low-grade and
unprocessed. One Post contact in the Bihar police pointed out
that the uranium mine in Jadugoda, Jharkhand would have been a
more accessible area to smuggle uranium from, indicating that
Bihar police are doubtful about whether the seized substance is
in fact uranium.
3. (SBU) Comment: The corridor linking India's Northeast runs
across W. Bengal and Bihar and is a nexus for smuggling all
manner of illicit items into Nepal and Bangladesh and mainland
India. SSB officers who monitor border traffic are susceptible
to corruption and involvement in smuggling. There have been
media reports in the past of suspected uranium smuggling from
Meghalaya (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/44327 03.stm).
Post will continue to follow up on the arrests and provide
further details as they become available, but authorities at
this point remain reticent about discussing the case.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/CTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP TRGY PARM PGOV IN
SUBJECT: BIHAR POLICE SEIZE FOUR KILOGRAMS OF SUSPECTED URANIUM
1. (SBU) On February 19, Bihar Police seized approximately four
kilograms of what they believe may be low-grade uranium in the
Supaul district near the Indo-Nepal border. The Bihar police
arrested six people connected with the smuggling operation,
including a Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) constable posted in Assam.
[Note: SSB is a paramilitary force that guards the Indo-Nepal
border. End Note.] After the arrest, the suspects reportedly
confessed that they were carrying uranium, but test results on
the material (which was handed over to the Indian Army) could
take two-to-three days. The SSB Director General told post that
the material was housed in a package labeled "Fool's Gold - Made
in Japan," and the suspects apparently planned to smuggle the
substance across the border into Nepal.
2. (SBU) The arrested men indicated that the alleged uranium
came from the northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. Uranium in
Meghalaya's mines is generally considered to be low-grade and
unprocessed. One Post contact in the Bihar police pointed out
that the uranium mine in Jadugoda, Jharkhand would have been a
more accessible area to smuggle uranium from, indicating that
Bihar police are doubtful about whether the seized substance is
in fact uranium.
3. (SBU) Comment: The corridor linking India's Northeast runs
across W. Bengal and Bihar and is a nexus for smuggling all
manner of illicit items into Nepal and Bangladesh and mainland
India. SSB officers who monitor border traffic are susceptible
to corruption and involvement in smuggling. There have been
media reports in the past of suspected uranium smuggling from
Meghalaya (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/44327 03.stm).
Post will continue to follow up on the arrests and provide
further details as they become available, but authorities at
this point remain reticent about discussing the case.
JARDINE