UNICRI Holds Advanced Training on Special Operations to Counter Radiological and Nuclear Trafficking

From July 8 to 12, 2024, UNICRI conducted its first advanced training course for operative officers on special operations to counter radiological and nuclear (RN) trafficking.

Organized within the framework of Phase II of the CONTACT - Black Sea project, the 5-day training session provided six participants from Moldova and Ukraine the opportunity to test and acquire new skills on conducting special operations, with a specific focus on intercepting RN material trafficking.

The training agenda included various practical activities based on scenarios derived from past operations. These exercises were designed to simulate real-life conditions, allowing participants to practice essential behavioral techniques and decision-making during different stages of an operation. The agenda also featured theoretical overviews of radiation basics, materials encountered in trafficking, criminal behavioral patterns, communication techniques for operative officers, the development of cover stories, and ensuring the safety of an operative. In addition, ORTEC, producer of ionizing radiation detectors, demonstrated its advanced radiation detection equipment, which was also used in the exercises.

Preventing RN materials from falling into the wrong hands is a top priority on the international agenda. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the consequent loss of regulatory control over thousands of radioactive sources make it imperative for security and law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to intercept any potential smuggling of these materials.

"At UNICRI, we believe that operatives from security services and law enforcement agencies play a crucial role in monitoring the black market for RN materials and conducting special operations to intercept them, ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.

This training was highly practical, with trainees engaging in simulations that ranged from receiving initial intelligence on criminals attempting to sell radioactive sources to the final stages of the operations. I believe this training has provided participants with useful knowledge for their daily jobs, as well as the opportunity to learn from each other," said the Acting Director of UNICRI, Mr. Leif Villadsen.

Background Information

On 1st June 2020, UNICRI officially launched the project "CONTACT - Black Sea: Enhancing capacities to prevent the trafficking of radiological and nuclear (RN) materials in the Black Sea region." The project aims to enhance the capacities of security and law enforcement officials in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to prevent and counter trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials. It also aims to foster regional cooperation and the exchange of information on incidents related to RN trafficking. The project was implemented by UNICRI and is jointly funded by the United Kingdom Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (UK DESNZ), the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

From September 2022 UNICRI started implementing "CONTACT - Black Sea" Phase II, an extension of the "CONTACT - Black Sea" project. Among the activities within the framework of this project it is envisaged to engage with the national training institutions to ensure sustainability of counter RN trafficking training and to further improve capabilities of state security and law enforcement officials by organizing additional advanced training sessions to reinforce and consolidate expertise and skills of project participants. The project is jointly funded by the UK DESNZ and the DSA.

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