Highly radioactive cobalt-60, a material used in cancer treatment, has been removed from Guatemala and transported to secure storage in the United States. The operation, conducted by the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), aimed to prevent the material from being stolen and potentially used to construct a radiological weapon, commonly known as a "dirty bomb."
The cobalt-60 source was housed within a disused medical radiation device. Specialists from the NNSA's Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico worked with Guatemalan officials in May to remove the radioactive component. Guatemalan authorities provided assistance with transportation, logistics, and physical security throughout the operation.
According to the NNSA, the retrieved material posed a security threat if acquired by terrorists or other adversaries. "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 the NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.
This initiative is part of a broader U.S. government effort to secure dangerous radioactive materials worldwide and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. The operation underscores the administration's focus on countering the proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons, a key objective identified in the 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy.
Guatemala's National Centre of Radioactive Wastes and Ministry of Energy and Mines supported the removal by providing transportation and security. "Thanks to our collaboration with NNSA and DTRA in removing high-risk radioactive material from our facility, we were able to eliminate the danger it posed to our community and country," stated Mayra Villatoro, head of the Unit of Technical Laboratories at Guatemala's Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) provided secure transportation for the packaged cobalt-60 source back to the U.S. "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."
The NNSA Office of Radiological Security regularly engages with foreign governments and partners to remove high-activity radioactive material and enhance security measures around radioactive sources globally.