NETHERLANDS/TRITIUM: SHIPMENT DETAILS / IAEA

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000588

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN, T, EUR/PRA, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL IR NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/TRITIUM: SHIPMENT DETAILS / IAEA
BRIEFING

REF: A. THE HAGUE 271

B. STATE 26650

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,d)


1. (S) SUMMARY: On July 9, Dutch MFA Senior Advisor for
Nonproliferation and Nuclear Affairs Ceta Noland provided
poloff with further details on the tritium gas shipment
reviewed in reftels, including background on the Dutch
company involved and the likely location of the tritium,
and the Dutch briefing to the IAEA on the same subject.
Noland further noted that Germany has asked the Netherlands
to hold off on any actions in the case due to an ongoing
investigation in Germany. END SUMMARY.


2. (S) SHIPMENT DETAILS: Noland stated that the tritium gas
order was made at the beginning of 2006. The shipment was
made by Campro, a sales office or subsidiary of the Campro
company, headquartered in Germany. The order was placed by
the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). Dutch
customs intercepted the shipment on December 5, 2007
because "everything" shipped to Iran receives scrutiny, and
because the material was radioactive. The material was not
/ not intercepted due to an ongoing investigation. The
justification for the shipment -- using tritium for medical
treatments -- was clearly fictitious.


3. (S) BACKGROUND ON DUTCH SHIPPER: Noland stated that the
Dutch affiliate of Campro does not normally deal with Iran
but rather ships small amounts of radioactive materials to
labs and hospitals. Noland indicated that it was just
speculation, but Campro Germany may have chosen its Dutch
affiliate to ship the materials because it has a license to
ship internationally.


4. (S) LOCATION/SOURCE OF TRITIUM: Noland indicated that
the GONL believes but has not confirmed that the tritium is
now held by Scopus Research in the Netherlands. GONL
informed Scopus that it must apply for a license to ship
the material internationally. Because Scopus has not
applied for a license, the GONL believe Scopus is still
holding the tritium gas. Scopus originally purchased the
tritium from American Radio Label Chemicals in St. Louis.


5. (S) IAEA BRIEFING: Noland said that the Dutch provided
the above information to the staff of the IAEA Safeguards
Division, who promised to provide the information to
Director Heinonen. The IAEA may have follow-up questions.


6. (S) GERMAN INVESTIGATION: Noland explained that Germany
has asked the Netherlands to hold off on any actions in
this case due to an ongoing investigation in Germany. She
suggested it would be difficult to provide further details
in the case for that reason. As part of its investigation,
Germany has seized tritium from Campo in Germany. Dutch
authorities are working closely with their German
counterparts.
Gallagher