Investigators Suspect Crime Ring Was Trying to Sell Weapons-Grade Uranium

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Investigators Suspect Crime Ring Was Trying to Sell Weapons-Grade Uranium

IN THIS ISSUE: Officials say crime ring has uranium, US and Ukraine's security pledge, experts urge states on CTBT, Fukushima desolation worst since Nagasaki, Iran in talks with Russia on more nuclear plants. Fars News Agency No Progress in Russia-U.S. Missile Shield Talks

Published on September 27, 2011

In This Issue

Investigators Suspect Crime Ring Was Trying to Sell Weapons-Grade Uranium
Associated Press

US, Ukraine Follow Up on Nuclear Security Pledge
World Nuclear News

Nongovernmental Experts Urge States to Translate Words Into Action on Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Arms Control Today

Fukushima Desolation Worst Since Nagasaki as Residents Flee
Bloomberg News

Iran in Talks with Russia on Construction of More Nuclear Power Plants
Fars News Agency

No Progress in Russia-U.S. Missile Shield Talks
RIA Novosti

Investigators Suspect Crime Ring Was Trying to Sell Weapons-Grade Uranium in North Africa

Desmond Butler | Associated Press

Investigators following up on a nuclear sting in eastern Europe suspect that a crime syndicate was trying to sell weapons-grade uranium to buyers in North Africa.

Officials in Moldova, a former Soviet republic, told The Associated Press that 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of highly enriched uranium remains in criminal hands and is probably in another country.

Though that is a fraction of what is needed for a bomb, the investigation has provided fresh evidence of a black market in nuclear material probably taken from poorly secured stockpiles in the former Soviet Union.

U.S. authorities have been aiding the Moldovans in the international search for a Russian believed to be the ringleader of the smuggling operation. They also are searching for a North African man who they believe attempted to buy the uranium in Moldova before fleeing the country. Full Article

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More from Proliferation News

US, Ukraine Follow Up on Nuclear Security Pledge

World Nuclear News

The USA and Ukraine have signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize pledges made by their respective presidents towards ridding Ukraine of its stocks of highly enriched uranium. Full Article

Nongovernmental Experts Urge States to Translate Words Into Action on Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Arms Control Today

At a meeting at the United Nations to discuss pathways to bring the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty into force, nongovernmental nuclear nonproliferation leaders are calling on all states to translate their words of support for the Treaty into concrete action. Full Article

Related

Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Asahi Shimbun)

Fukushima Desolation Worst Since Nagasaki as Residents Flee

Yuriy Humber, Yuji Okada and Stuart Biggs | Bloomberg News

What's emerging in Japan six months since the nuclear meltdown at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. plant is a radioactive zone bigger than that left by the 1945 atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Full Article

Iran in Talks with Russia on Construction of More Nuclear Power Plants

Fars News Agency

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran is in talks with Moscow over the construction of more nuclear power plants. Ahmadinejad said his government is in discussions with Russia about constructing another nuclear power plant in Iran. Full Article

No Progress in Russia-U.S. Missile Shield Talks

RIA Novosti

No progress has been made in Russia - U.S. talks on the projected deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Europe, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Tuesday. Full Article

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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