Russian Underworld Blamed In N-Material Theft

Russia’s notorious organized crime syndicates were behind the theft in 1993 of radioactive beryllium from a Russian nuclear laboratory and the failed attempt to sell the material in the West, according to a magazine and broadcast report.

The crime syndicates, known as “mafiya,” appear to be deeply involved in the theft and smuggling of nuclear-related materials out of Russia for sale to the highest bidder, the report said.

The mysterious beryllium shipment was seized by police in Lithuania and remains today in the bank vault where it was first discovered, according to the report.

But a five-month investigation by U.S. News and World Report and CBS’ “60 Minutes” program has shed additional light on the theft. The report is to be aired by CBS todayand be featured in the magazine appearing on Monday.

According to the report, the smugglers were preparing to sell the beryllium to an Austrian middleman who in turn had a mystery buyer who was ready to pay as much as $24 million for the material, 10 times its legitimate market value. The buyer, although never identified, was said to be Korean, the report says.