Turkey: 2 remanded for smuggling radioactive element

By Abdullah Ozkul

NIGDE, Turkey (AA) - A Turkish court remanded two suspects in custody for smuggling radioactive element in the central Nigde province, security sources said.

Smuggling and organized crime police arrested two Syrian nationals in the act when they attempted to sell some 14 grams (0.50 oz) of radioactive element, considered to be californium, for $5 million.

A local court ordered the suspects to be put behind bars.

The contraband radioactive element was sent to Turkey’s Atomic Energy Authority for examination.

Californium is a radioactive chemical element first synthesized at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory of California University in 1950. It is considered to be highly hazardous and is used in nuclear reactors as well as oil wells.

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur