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