Four nabbed with 'radiation device'

Lycanthrope

Lycanthrope

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Four men were arrested on Friday afternoon in Pretoria for allegedly possessing and trying to sell an "industrial radiation device," police said.

The four, all South Africans, were caught in Garsfontein in Pretoria East at a petrol station where they had been trying to sell the device, spokesman for the police's elite investigation team, the Hawks, Musa Zondi, said in a statement.

The Hawks, Interpol and other police units took part in the operation.

Zondi said the police received information that people were trying to sell the device for about R45 million.

"A bogus transaction was arranged and the suspects duly arrived and tried to sell off a sample of their consignment."


The gadget was secured and taken by the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA for safe storage. It was not yet clear where it came from. Zondi also did not want to divulge what it could be used for.

"Where it comes from is part of the ongoing investigation. What it can do? It is an industrial device, but some people could do other things with it."

The four would appear in court soon on charges of theft and possession of a radioactive device, as well as charges relating to violating health legislation for handling such material in public.
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Source: IOL

Creepy.
 
The gadget was secured and taken by the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA for safe storage. It was not yet clear where it came from. Zondi also did not want to divulge what it could be used for.

"Where it comes from is part of the ongoing investigation. What it can do? It is an industrial device, but some people could do other things with it."

The four would appear in court soon on charges of theft and possession of a radioactive device, as well as charges relating to violating health legislation for handling such material in public.
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Raises safety/security concerns when a device which needs to be held by NECSA for safe storage can be stolen without the theft being reported :confused:
 
ForceFate said:
Might have been stolen from another country.
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I considered that however it seems unlikely the thieves would then risk bringing it into SA, only to setup a sale at a petrol garage?
 
The people who were supposed to report the theft should be charged too !
 
This is one of those situations that brings to mind the story of statistics and a bikini. What is being revealed is interesting but what is being hidden (not said) is actually crucial!
 
VanZan said:
This is one of those situations that brings to mind the story of statistics and a bikini. What is being revealed is interesting but what is being hidden (not said) is actually crucial!
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Yes, what can you do with the device?
 
copacetic said:
:wtf:

At a petrol station of all places.
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You would be surprised at the number of illegal transactions that take place at service stations across the country. The parking lot at the various Mc Donald's as well.:D
 
Lycanthrope said:
Source: IOL

Creepy.
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I think its crap! “If you don’t understand what it is (most things), confiscate it.” If it was truly illegal, would they be trying to sell it at a petrol station? Without a ready buyer? There is more to this story and not to police advantage.

Moral: those with hi-tech wristwatches might be arrested for “dangerous devices” (translated – I don’t understand what it is, therefore it must be dangerous).
 
copacetic said:
Ya, but how many for R45 million radioactive devices?
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I think they dealing with amateurs here that don't know any better.
The device i would presume would be some form of x-ray equipment or similar.
 
This story appears to be related:

An international police sting at a Pretoria petrol station has netted four men involved in the sale of a highly radioactive metal suspected to be destined for use in a dirty bomb.

The high-risk operation by the Hawks' specialised tactical unit was carried out yesterday.

Police recovered some Caesium-137 contained in a protective cover, but admitted they had yet to find a larger device, which was set to be sold on the black market for R45 million.

CCTV footage shows how undercover members of the Hawks' organised crime unit stormed through a Sasol garage, opening fire on the suspects with semi-automatic weapons, sending terrified customers, motorists and petrol attendants fleeing.
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Read more:
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20100710085544493C308461
 
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