Photo: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA/pexels.com
A Sydney man has been put on good behaviour bonds after he admitted to illegally importing nuclear material and radioactive substances.
The man was sentenced in Downing Local Court on Friday, April 11, after he was summoned to court in March 2024 and pled guilty to two counts of moving and possessing nuclear material and two counts of illegally importing and possessing prohibited items.
The Australia Border Force (ABF) said the man imported plutonium, depleted uranium, lutetium, thorium, and radium illegally and without documents between December 2022 and May 2023.
He was sentenced through a non-conviction order and given two conditional good behaviour bonds of 18 and 24-months.
The ABF say their investigations began after they stopped a package upon its arrival into Australia in May 2023 to confirm if it confirmed radioactive material.
An investigation was launched two months later (July) that year involving the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO).
The goal was to find out if there had been earlier imports of radioactive substances and nuclear material.
A police raid on an Arncliffe home on August 17, 2023, that yielded finds also involved emergency services, NSW Environmental Protection Agency and the Australia Federal Police (AFP)-led Joint Counter Terrorism Taskforce (JCTT) while Department of Defence, ANSTO and ASNO advised them.
REMINDER TO IMPORTERS
ABF Superintendent James Ryan says the agency works hand-in-glove with many agencies to stop the importation of dangerous substances that pose a risk to national security.
“The importation of nuclear and radiological material must be closely scrutinised and requires authorisation,” Supt. Ryan says.
“This was an extremely complex and sensitive investigation and one whereby ABF and our partner agencies are world leading in our response.
“I hope this example can be used as an education tool for people to be aware of the regulatory frameworks around what can and cannot be imported into Australia – whether they are material goods, food or plant matter, medications, or seemingly innocuous goods,” he says.
“If in doubt, always ask the relevant agency.”
ANSO Director-General Dr Geoffrey Shaw says it is important to know that importing nuclear materials can be granted with the right permits.
“Australia has important treaty obligations, which means we need to track and report on nuclear materials and activities in Australia. Our nuclear permit system and verification activities help us do this,” Dr Shaw said.
ANSTO Group Executive for Nuclear Safety, Security and Stewardship, Dr Miles Apperley says their experience in safe handling of radioactive materials and expertise in nuclear forensic science was critical to the analysis and verification of the seized material.
- If you plan to have nuclear materials, contact ASNO first. If you believe you may have found nuclear material, contact ASNO as well as the radiation safety regulator in your state or territory. ASNO can be contacted on (02) 6261 1920 or [email protected].
