Radioactive material that could have been used to make ‘dirty bomb’ removed from key facility

Officials linked to United States’ Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) successfully removed a high-risk radioactive material from a key facility. The team worked with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and removed a cobalt-60 source in Guatemala, strengthening U.S. and global radiological security. While cobalt-60 is used in medical devices to treat cancer, the highly radioactive source could be stolen and used to create a “dirty bomb.” Radioactive material’s removal is a massive win “Our mission is simple: protect American citizens, secure our borders, and ensure our adversaries never get their hands on materials that could harm our country,” said Matthew Napoli, Deputy Administrator for NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. “This successful removal is a massive win for homeland security and demonstrates our positive relationship with the Guatemalan government. NNSA will do whatever it takes to defend America and keep our communities safe.”In May, a team from NNSA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory worked with a facility in Guatemala to remove part of a disused U.S.-origin medical radiation device – a teletherapy machine – containing cobalt-60 and transport it to secured storage in the United States. Guatemalan representatives from the National Centre of Radioactive Wastes and the Ministry of Energy and Mines provided expert transportation, logistical, and physical security support throughout the removal process, according to a press release. NNSA securely packaged radioactive cobalt-60 component Working together, NNSA securely packaged the cobalt-60 component, and DTRA provided secure transportation of the source back to the United States. “The successful repatriation of the cobalt-60 source is a product of vital U.S. Government interagency cooperation,” said Robert Bridges, DTRA Program Manager of Nuclear Transportation & Disposition. “We are proud to work with NNSA to take meaningful action in their mission to eliminate radiological risk and keep America safe.”NNSA works with partner nations around the world to reduce nuclear and radiological risk. The Trump Administration’s 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy underscores that preventing terrorists from acquiring chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons is a critical national security responsibility of the U.S. Government. One of the major concerns is the possibility that such material could be stolen and used in a radiological dispersal device, commonly known as a “dirty bomb.” Unlike a nuclear weapon, a dirty bomb does not produce a nuclear explosion. Instead, it uses conventional explosives or another mechanism to spread radioactive contamination, potentially causing casualties, disruption and widespread public concern. For this reason, international efforts to remove unnecessary high-activity radioactive sources are an important part of preventing radiological terrorism. NNSA’s Office of Radiological Security works both to eliminate such risks and to strengthen security around radioactive materials that continue to be needed. The operation represented more than a technical removal of radioactive material. It demonstrated how international cooperation, specialized scientific expertise and secure transportation capabilities can be combined to reduce a potential security threat. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.