Bihar Police Seize Rs 850 Crore of Radioactive Californium from Smuggling Gang

Bihar Police arrested a smuggling gang and confiscated 50 grams of californium, a highly valuable radioactive substance worth Rs 850 crore. The gang was attempting to sell the substance, which is illegal in India.

Key Points

• Bihar Police arrested a three-member smuggling gang and seized 50 grams of californium, valued at Rs 850 crore.
• The suspects were intercepted at a checkpoint and were found to have a fake lab test report from IIT-Madras.
• Californium, a radioactive substance used in nuclear power and cancer treatment, is illegal to sell or purchase in India.
• The material has been sent for testing to the Department of Atomic Energy and a forensic team.
• This seizure follows a similar incident in Lucknow three years ago, where a larger quantity of californium was found.

In a major breakthrough, Bihar Police apprehended a three-member smuggling gang on Friday and confiscated 50 grams of the highly radioactive substance californium, valued at an astounding Rs 850 crore, or approximately Rs 17 crore per gram. The arrest was made at the Balthari checkpoint after police received a tip-off about the gang’s attempts to sell the substance.

According to Gopalganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Swarn Prabhat, the suspects were carrying a lab test report purportedly from IIT-Madras, which was later found to be counterfeit following verification with Professor S Mohan at the institute. The californium, which has applications ranging from nuclear power generation to cancer treatment, is illegal to buy or sell in India.

The authorities have forwarded the seized material to the Department of Atomic Energy for further analysis and have engaged a forensic team to assist with the investigation. The origin of the californium is still under investigation, as its possession and sale are strictly regulated.

This recent seizure echoes a similar incident from three years ago in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where police arrested eight individuals and recovered 340 grams of californium, estimated at around Rs 19 crore per gram at that time. The suspects in that case claimed to have acquired the substance from a coal mine worker.

The current case underscores the high stakes and risks associated with illegal trafficking of radioactive materials, highlighting ongoing challenges in regulating and controlling such dangerous substances.