'Russian gangs' attempting to sell nuclear material to Islamic State
FBI and Moldovan police have foiled four plots by smugglers looking for buyers who are enemies of the West
Criminal gangs with suspected Russian links are attempting to sell radioactive material to extremists in the Middle East, including Islamic State militants.
FBI agents working alongside investigators in Moldova have foiled four separate plots by smugglers specifically seeking out buyers who are enemies of the West, an AP investigation has revealed.
"In the age of the Islamic State, it's especially terrifying to have real smugglers of nuclear bomb material apparently making connections with real buyers," said Matthew Bunn, a Harvard professor who led a secret study for the Clinton administration on the security of Russia's nuclear arsenal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Authorities involved in the undercover operations in the impoverished Eastern European country shared wiretaps, videotaped arrests, photographs of bomb-grade material, documents and interviews with AP journalists to demonstrate the extent of the nuclear black market.
"This represents the fulfilment of a long-feared scenario in which organised crime gangs are trying to link up with groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaida — both of which have made clear their ambition to use weapons of mass destruction," says AP.
In one case, smugglers promised to provide 10kg or uranium, a fifth of what was used over Hiroshima, in 1kg packages costing £24m each.
Another involved a Russian man authorities believe to be an officer with Russia's FSB intelligence agency, known as 'The Colonel'. He attempted to sell bomb-grade uranium and blueprints for a dirty bomb to a Sudanese man, but managed to escape capture when the plot was foiled by police.
The criminal investigation was plagued by serious shortcomings, AP reports. Kingpins got away and those arrested escaped lengthy prison sentences, sometimes quickly returning to nuclear smuggling.
The FBI and the White House refused to comment on the investigation and the US state department said it would not comment on specific details, but a spokesperson said Moldova has taken "many important steps" to strengthen its counter-nuclear smuggling capabilities.
But Constantin Malic, one of the main Moldovan investigators, warned: "We can expect more of these cases.”
“As long as the smugglers think they can make big money without getting caught, they will keep doing it."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The issue of women and conscription
Under the radar Ukraine military adviser hints at widening draft to women, as other countries weigh defence options amid global insecurity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
AI is causing concern among the LGBTQ community
In the Spotlight One critic believes that AI will 'always fail LGBTQ people'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Modern presidents exercise power undreamed of by the Founding Fathers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The issue of women and conscription
Under the radar Ukraine military adviser hints at widening draft to women, as other countries weigh defence options amid global insecurity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Iran's attack on Israel backfire?
Today's Big Question The unprecedented targeting of Israel could be a 'godsend' for Netanyahu as the limits of Tehran's military power are exposed
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Labour and nuclear weapons: a turbulent ideological history
The Explainer From the 1940s to Keir Starmer, the party leadership has zigzagged in and out of love with the bomb
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Why is Islamic State targeting Russia?
Today's Big Question Islamist terror group's attack on 'soft target' in Moscow was driven in part by 'opportunity and personnel'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's unconventional approach to reconstruction
Under the radar Digitally savvy nation uses popular app to file compensation claims, access funds and rebuild destroyed homes
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How likely is an accidental nuclear incident?
The Explainer Artificial intelligence, secret enemy tests or false alarms could trigger inadvertent launch or detonation
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Ukraine's leadership reset work?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy hints at ousting of popular military chief, but risks backlash amid dwindling munitions, delayed funding and Russian bombardment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years: how powerful is Pakistan's military?
Today's Big Question The country's armed forces ignore country's economic woes, control its institutions and, critics say, engineer election results
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published