Viet Nam hosts EU-supported interregional workshop to share information about radiological trafficking investigations

In recent years, a concerning trend has emerged, with numerous individuals apprehended at airports worldwide carrying decks of playing cards that triggered radiation portal monitors. Subsequent examinations revealed the presence of Iodine-125, a high-activity radioisotope commonly employed in cancer treatment. Noteworthy incidents occurred in Germany, Poland, Moldova, the Russian Federation, the United States, as well as Viet Nam and other East and Southeast Asian countries since 2011. 

Investigations have unveiled a trans-national network of criminal groups utilizing radioactively marked cards for gambling frauds.

Trafficking of radioactive substances: health and security risks

While Iodine-125 is not considered an isotope of proliferation concern, it poses severe health risks upon contact and results in contamination of affected areas. Additionally, these incidents underscore the capability of criminal groups to manipulate radioactive substances with a high degree of proficiency and traffic dangerous material undetected across various regions. This raises significant security concerns, as in the future the same or similar schemes could be used for the trafficking of more sensitive radioactive or nuclear material for proliferation or terrorist purposes. Furthermore, the revelation that criminal groups have continuous access to a stable supply of a radioisotope subject to strict regulatory control exposes alarming vulnerabilities in the global supply chain of radioactive material.

A comprehensive understanding of the modus operandi behind this criminal activity is crucial for law enforcement and prosecutors to prevent future trafficking schemes involving radiological and nuclear materials.

Enhancing cooperation and information exchange to disrupt trafficking

In-line with requests and concerns expressed by several countries in the Southeast Asia region, as well as several EU Member States, the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative (EU CBRN CoE) organized an interregional workshop on “Enhancing cooperation and exchange of information to combat radiological and nuclear trafficking”.The event was hosted in Da Nang, Viet Nam, organized in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the Viet Nam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS). 

The two-day event brought together representatives of intelligence, law enforcement, customs, nuclear regulatory and prosecutorial authorities from different countries in Southeast Asia and Europe to share insights related to the numerous trafficking cases of Iodine-125-marked playing cards detected worldwide. Furthermore, the event facilitated the identification of joint actions to prevent diversion of RN material from legal supply chains and to thwart the activities of trans-national criminal networks involved in these trafficking activities, thereby enhancing global radiological and nuclear security.

The workshop included briefings by police and prosecutorial authorities of eight countries on detected cases and the results of investigations and forensics examinations, sectoral group discussions on different aspects of the crime and its response, as well as presentations by international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC).

In their closing remarks, participants underlined the value of sharing information about the cases and shared concrete next steps to disrupt this trafficking scheme. 

To know more about EU CBRN CoE support for CBRN risk mitigation in Southeast Asia, please visit the SEA Regional Secretariat page.