Large amount of radioactive metal found during a special operation in the region of Plovdiv

Two people have been charged with trafficking in dangerous and radioactive substances. During a specialised operation in Plovdiv (Southern Bulgaria) by the state Agency for National Security (SANS), the Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor's office, 80 tiles with the radioactive dangerous metal americium, which is banned and dangerous to human health, were seized. According to investigators, the tile were held for the purposes of sale. They were being traded at 5,000 euros per tile. The two men who have been charged are 61 and 63 years old, they are engaged in commercial activity, the Prosecutor's office said on September 20.

The supervising prosecutor explained that yesterday's raid was secret, with other security services, including SANS and the Prosecutor's office, also involved. The actions were prepared very carefully because of the dangerous substance americium. Investigators assured that the tiles in question are currently stored in a place safe for people at the state-owned ‘Radioactive Waste’ enterprise.

During the raid, a total of 6 addresses in the region of Plovdiv were searched - homes and private cars of three men. Investigators found a total of 80 tiles with americium, which is banned and dangerous to human health. In a car in Plovdiv on the Ring Road street, 44 tiles were found, which are a source of ionizing radiation and have an isotope of americium. About 35 americium tiles were found in a property in a residential area near Karlovo, 1 tile was found at a home address in Plovdiv.

According to investigators, the persons in whose possession the tiles were found had kept them with the aim of selling them, trading them for 5,000 euros per tile.

SANS chairman Petar Tonchev added that 4 persons were initially detained in the course of the raid.

"Maximum values above the dose were detected during the field measurements for radioactive control. The measurements showed more than 430 times above the norm of the natural radiation background for Bulgaria," Tonchev said.

He specified that the radiation background emitted outside the norms was about a metre away from the tiles.

"The seized material could be used for a so-called 'dirty bomb'. Such a device could cause human casualties," Tonchev added.

Caretaker Minister of Interior Atanas Ilkov stressed that during the raid all measures were taken not to endanger the health of both the participants in the operation and the population.

"The interaction between the institutions was very good. It proved that with good communication a good result follows. Thank you to everyone who participated in this brilliant operation."

The investigation is on-going.

Images by Ministry of Interior

SANS agents and special police officers from the Ministry of Interior were assisted by firefighters with special equipment during the operation.

Americium has ionizing radiation and for this reason must be stored and transported under special conditions.

The operation to seize the expensive radioactive metal was coordinated personally by Acting Prosecutor General, Borislav Sarafov.