Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUENOSAIRES184
2009-02-21 13:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
ARGENTINE FEDERAL POLICE RECOVERS CESIUM 137
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #0184 0521307 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 211307Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3080 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0227
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000184
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC AND ISN/WMDT
DEPT FOR DS/CC AND DS/IP/WHA
DOE FOR NNSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG IAEA KNNP KCSA TRGY ASEC AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINE FEDERAL POLICE RECOVERS CESIUM 137
CONTAINER UNOPENED AND MAKES AND ARREST
REF: A. A) BUENOS AIRES 00183
B. B) BUENOS AIRES 00173
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000184
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC AND ISN/WMDT
DEPT FOR DS/CC AND DS/IP/WHA
DOE FOR NNSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG IAEA KNNP KCSA TRGY ASEC AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINE FEDERAL POLICE RECOVERS CESIUM 137
CONTAINER UNOPENED AND MAKES AND ARREST
REF: A. A) BUENOS AIRES 00183
B. B) BUENOS AIRES 00173
1. (SBU) In the evening of February 20, Argentine Federal
Police recovered the stolen container of cesium 137 unopened
and made an arrest in connection with the case (reftels). A
very senior police official reported to RSO that the tracking
of an extortion call made earlier in the day had allowed
investigators to narrow down their search to a small area in
Neuquen City. The NRA (nuclear regulatory agency) team in
Neuquen reportedly used a rediological scanner to pinpoint to
a couple of houses, which were then placed under surveillance.
2. (SBU) According to this senior official, the police were
in the process of obtaining a search warrant when a taxi
pulled up to one of the houses and a ramp was placed to
access the back of the vehicle. An individual was arrested
as he was rolling the container onto the trunk of the
vehicle. The arrest was made possible by the fact that the
handling was occurring on a public street. The arrested
individual was a former employee of Baker Atlas. The
investigation continues to identify other individuals
involved in the case. The police confirm that the container
was never opened and that there were no radioactive leaks.
3. (U) The national press still has not picked up on this
dramatic capture, though the Neuquen local newspaper reported
the story today and gave additional details about the arrest.
According to the newspaper article, specialists contracted
by Baker Atlas assisted the ARN in tracking down the nuclear
source. The article can be found at
www.lmneuquen.com.ar/noticias/2009/2/21/19560 .php.
4. (SBU) Comment: The quick and successful resolution of the
theft of nuclear material highlights excellent combined work
between the police and the NRA, using a combination of tools
involving the tracing of a call and the use of nuclear
detection scanners. The GOA took this incident very
seriously and deployed all of the means at its disposal to
recover the stolen nuclear material within two days. The
work of this combined inter-agency task force is also
evidence that the GOA has put to good use the training,
equipment and nuclear emergency response center provided by
the USG. End Comment
KELLY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC AND ISN/WMDT
DEPT FOR DS/CC AND DS/IP/WHA
DOE FOR NNSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG IAEA KNNP KCSA TRGY ASEC AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINE FEDERAL POLICE RECOVERS CESIUM 137
CONTAINER UNOPENED AND MAKES AND ARREST
REF: A. A) BUENOS AIRES 00183
B. B) BUENOS AIRES 00173
1. (SBU) In the evening of February 20, Argentine Federal
Police recovered the stolen container of cesium 137 unopened
and made an arrest in connection with the case (reftels). A
very senior police official reported to RSO that the tracking
of an extortion call made earlier in the day had allowed
investigators to narrow down their search to a small area in
Neuquen City. The NRA (nuclear regulatory agency) team in
Neuquen reportedly used a rediological scanner to pinpoint to
a couple of houses, which were then placed under surveillance.
2. (SBU) According to this senior official, the police were
in the process of obtaining a search warrant when a taxi
pulled up to one of the houses and a ramp was placed to
access the back of the vehicle. An individual was arrested
as he was rolling the container onto the trunk of the
vehicle. The arrest was made possible by the fact that the
handling was occurring on a public street. The arrested
individual was a former employee of Baker Atlas. The
investigation continues to identify other individuals
involved in the case. The police confirm that the container
was never opened and that there were no radioactive leaks.
3. (U) The national press still has not picked up on this
dramatic capture, though the Neuquen local newspaper reported
the story today and gave additional details about the arrest.
According to the newspaper article, specialists contracted
by Baker Atlas assisted the ARN in tracking down the nuclear
source. The article can be found at
www.lmneuquen.com.ar/noticias/2009/2/21/19560 .php.
4. (SBU) Comment: The quick and successful resolution of the
theft of nuclear material highlights excellent combined work
between the police and the NRA, using a combination of tools
involving the tracing of a call and the use of nuclear
detection scanners. The GOA took this incident very
seriously and deployed all of the means at its disposal to
recover the stolen nuclear material within two days. The
work of this combined inter-agency task force is also
evidence that the GOA has put to good use the training,
equipment and nuclear emergency response center provided by
the USG. End Comment
KELLY