Stolen Radioactive Source in Mexico on February 8 at some point of the road between Apaseo el Alto and Salamanca, Guanajuato.

Print View Posted on: 16 February 2021

Event Date: 08 February 2021 Event Type: Transportation
Event Location: Mexico, Salamanca, Guanajuato State INES Rating: 1 (Final)

On February 8, 2021, the CNSNS received a notification about the theft of a radiography camera (model DELTA 880).
The camera was stolen when the radiographer was forced to pull over by criminals. The DELTA 880 camera serial number is D2766 and contains a category 2 radioactive source of Iridium-192 with an activity of 2.035 TBq.
At 17:00 UTC on February 10, the CNSNS was informed by the concessionaire (company authorized to own and use the radioactive source) that the source was recovered in the town of Sarabia, Guanajuato state.
Finally, the licensee informed the CNSNS that the radioactive source, which was found intact in its shielding within the radiography camera, was safely transported back to the licensee’s facility.

INES Rating: 1 - Anomaly (Final) as per 12 February 2021
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 No
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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