US embassy cable - 05ANKARA4841

UNCLAS ANKARA 004841 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, KCRM, KNNP, MNUC, PARM, PTER, TU 
SUBJECT: NUCLEAR SMUGGLING IN TURKEY: ALLEGED URANIUM 
OFFERED FOR SALE IN ISTANBUL 
 
REF: 2004 STATE 235088 
 
1.  Summary: On August 16 and 17, 2005, Turkish press 
reported the arrest of 2 individuals suspected of attempting 
to sell enriched uranium.  EXBS Advisor made contact with MFA 
and Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) representatives to 
confirm the media reports.  Both MFA and TAEK have offered to 
provide summaries of their findings as they become available. 
 Post will continue to investigate this matter and report our 
findings. End Summary. 
 
2.  On August 16 and 17, 2005, Turkish press reported the 
arrest of 2 individuals suspected of attempting to sell 
enriched uranium.  Following is a summary of the information 
reported by the Anatolian News Agency, the source for all 
other news reports we have seen: 
 
-- Two people were arrested on charges of attempting to sell 
173 grams of enriched uranium brought to Turkey from the 
Russian Federation.  The two individuals are Turkish 
citizens.  The estimated value of the uranium is $7 million. 
 
-- Suspects were caught while trying to sell 173 grams of 
uranium in the Harem district of Istanbul to policemen, who 
posed as buyers. 
 
-- Police officers stated that 173 grams of uranium was 
enough to meet the electricity needs of New York City for 1 
year. 
 
-- According to the press reports, TAEK Cekmece Nuclear 
Research and Training Center examined the uranium and 
concluded that the mentioned uranium contained 17% of U-235 
enrichment, the rest was composed of U-238 with a low amount 
of impurities. 
 
3.  EXBS Advisor contacted both MFA and TAEK to gather 
additional information about the incident and the uranium. 
MFA is investigating the reports further.  TAEK confirmed 
that: 
 
-- The seized material has been analyzed by the Cekmece 
Nuclear Research and Training Center. 
 
-- It was determined that the material is 173 grams of 
uranium oxide powder that contains U-235 isotope with a 17% 
enrichment ratio. 
 
-- The estimated value of the uranium powder is $1,500. 
 
-- The powder is being held at the Cekmece Center awaiting 
further instruction. 
 
Both MFA and TAEK agreed to provide additional information as 
it becomes available. 
 
4.  Post will continue to follow this incident and will 
provide updates as new information becomes available.  Point 
of contact for information is EXBS Advisor Kevin Lyon, tel 
90-312-455-5555, email lyonk@state.gov (unclas), 
lyonkm@state.sgov.gov (clas). 
 
MCELDOWNEY