Transporting WMB Across Borders

1. Transporting WMB Across Borders

2. 6 September – London authorities through Interpol send a circular report which states: A police informant of “uncertain reliability” reported that 2 representatives of a radical middle Eastern movement suspected of terrorist involvement met in London with three nuclear scientists who appeared to have South Asian citizenship. According to the informant, the scientists offered to sell “miniaturized” nuclear weapons components. The three south Asians left London separately – one with an air ticket to Istanbul, one with a ticket to Baku, and the third with an air ticket to Cyprus and Almaty. Names to follow. The 2 “radical” middle Easterners have disappeared.

3. 7 September – Turkish police send an urgent message to all parties referring to the London Interpol message reporting that Customs officials in Istanbul detained a south Asian citizen who was carrying sophisticated measuring devices in his luggage. A further search revealed documents which indicated that he and two colleagues might have knowledge related to miniature nuclear devices. They were attempting to sell two for three million dollars each. A ‘short hand’ list included over 50 potential customers from areas reaching from central Asia through northern Europe. Two bank transfer receipts for $750,000 each dated 3 and 5 September respectively were in the documents found. Also uncovered were technical diagrams of the devices which are now being analyzed by Turkish authorities.

4. 9 September - French authorities report two ‘swindlers’ using south Asian identity documents were being detained following an attempt to sell enriched plutonium to Algerian radical dissidents in Nice. The French have concluded that the swindlers did not have access to the materials and were simply “con-men.” One of these individuals had exit and entry stamps from Turkey dated in the past two weeks. • 10 September – Tajik officials advised of the detention of a suspected al Qaida leader who had been in hiding. In his papers, they found a card for a scheduled meeting in Baku on 15 September with a certain Ranju Mohammed Singh, Ph.D.; Professor of Nuclear Engineering. No further details available.

5. 17 September – Authorities in Almaty report intercepting in transit, a 300lb wooden crate en route to Baku addressed to Dr. R.M. Singh. First examination of the contents reveals some type of scientific measuring devices. Further reports to follow.