US Repatriates Radioactive Material from Guatemala Due to Security Concerns

<p>A radioactive material used in cancer treatment has been returned to the United States after being removed from Guatemala due to concerns that it could be stolen and used to create a radiological weapon, commonly referred to as a "dirty bomb." The cobalt-60 source was previously housed in a disused medical radiation device.</p><p>The operation was announced by the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on August 27, 2026, and is part of a broader initiative to prevent dangerous radioactive materials from falling into the hands of terrorists. The removal operation began in May, involving specialists from the NNSA's Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, who collaborated with a facility in Guatemala to extract the cobalt-60 from a U.S.-origin teletherapy machine.</p><p>Guatemalan officials provided assistance with transportation, logistics, and physical security during the operation. The NNSA stated that while cobalt-60 is used in medical devices for cancer treatment, it poses a security risk if stolen. The agency indicated that the material could have been utilized to create a radiological weapon.</p><p>The removal aligns with the Trump administration's focus on preventing terrorists from acquiring chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons, as outlined in the 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy. Matthew Napoli, deputy administrator for the NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, emphasized the mission to protect American citizens and secure borders.</p><p>Napoli described the successful removal as a significant achievement for homeland security and highlighted the positive relationship with the Guatemalan government. Mayra Villatoro, head of the Unit of Technical Laboratories at Guatemala's Ministry of Energy and Mines, noted that the collaboration with NNSA and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) helped eliminate the danger posed by the radioactive material.</p><p>After the cobalt-60 was securely packaged, the DTRA facilitated its transportation back to the U.S. Robert Bridges, DTRA program manager of Nuclear Transportation & Disposition, expressed pride in the interagency cooperation involved in the operation, which aims to mitigate radiological risks and enhance safety in the U.S.</p><p>This operation is part of the NNSA Office of Radiological Security's ongoing efforts to work with foreign governments and partners to remove high-activity radioactive material and improve protections surrounding such sources.</p>