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Three Arrested In Ukraine For Offering To Sell Radioactive Material
December 17, 2009
LVIV, Ukraine -- Police in Ukraine's western province of Lviv arrested three people this week for attempting to sell radioactive material, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.
Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) spokeswoman Marina Ostapenko told RFE/RL that the suspects intended to sell a significant amount of the highly radioactive material cesium-137 for about $15 million.
She said the radiation level of the top of the container holding the material was 35 times higher than normal.
Ostapenko said the suspects are not part of any terrorist group or organization and the group's major goal was to make money.
She did not say who was going to purchase the material or where the radioactive material originated.
Copyright (c) 2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
