The officers of the SIS Antiterrorist Center of the Republic of Moldova jointly with representatives of the National Agency for Regulation of Nuclear and Radiological Activity (ANRANR) found a new batch of expired radioactive sources, illegally possessed, as well as enormous quantities of toxic chemical waste.
During 2019, intelligence officers in cooperation with representatives of entities with responsibilities in this field carried out several activities to detect nuclear and radioactive materials. They identified massive amounts of radioactive sources – over 300 sources, which were also found in the area of Chișinău municipality.
Thus, SIS in cooperation with ANRANR identified approximately 80 expired radioactive sources, with two radiological charges for each item (Plutonium type radionuclide, isotope-239), possessed with no authorisation. The radioactive sources, some of which were found in construction waste, significantly exceeded natural background radiation, exposing the population to danger.
Moreover, radiological sources were found both at natural/ legal persons possessing aircrafts (over 30 sources), as well as in household articles and industrial equipment/ devices - over 250 sources, possessed with no authorisation or lost by some economic agents.
In this context, in order to eliminate all the circumstances that could cause possible exceptional situations involving radioactive, explosive or toxic substances, and to anticipate potential illegal acts, including terrorism, the Security and Intelligence Service will continue to identify, seize and transfer non-functional devices to SE “Special Items” for storage/ special preservation, in order to avoid negative consequences for national security, environment and state.
At the same time, SIS requires people, as well as business environment, to inform the Security and Intelligence Service about issues that could create possible dangers and harm national security, in order to promptly anticipate, prevent and counteract them.
06.02.2020
