Stolen Source at Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico


Print View Posted on: 02 December 2016

Event Date: 05 August 2016 Event Type: Radiation Source
Event Location: Mexico, Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico INES Rating: 1 (Final)

On August 5th, 2016 at 06:39 (EST) a report was received from the Emergency System and therefore to CNSNS (the regulatory body) informing the theft of a Stolen Source at Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. The device was a moisture/density gauge with Am241/Be (1.65GBq) and Cs-137 (370 MBq)

On August 6th, 2016 at 19:35 (EST) The Civil Protection Agency from Sonora State, Mexico, received a notification informing that a person inside a vehicle dropped a black bag on the sidewalk near a stop sign, in Colonia Libertad, Ciudad Obregón, Cajeme Municipality. The person indicated that the bag may contain the stolen moisture/density gauge.

The police went to the reported zone and confirmed that the stolen device was inside the bag. Personnel form the Civil Protection Agency from Sonora State confirmed the serial numer of the aforementioned device (S/N M350707988). First responders cordoned an area of 300 m around the device, setting a Comand System in coordination with Sonora State Health Ministry.

The device was recovered and the area was re-opened to normal public activities. There was no evidence that the device was tampered, so no contamination was present.
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INES Rating: 1 - Anomaly (Final) as per 14 November 2016
Release beyond authorized limits? No
Overexposure of a member of the public? No
Overexposure of a worker? No

Contamination spread within the facility? No
Damage to radiological barriers (incl. fuel damage) within the facility? No

Degradation of Defence In-Depth Yes

Person injured physically or casualty? No
Is there a continuing problem? No

Victor Gonzalez
Comision Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias

vmgonzalez@cnsns.gob.mx
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