US removes radioactive cancer-treatment material from Central American country over 'dirty bomb' risk

A highly radioactive material used to treat cancer is back on U.S. soil after American officials removed it from Guatemala over concerns it could be stolen and used to create a "dirty bomb."

The cobalt-60 source had been housed inside a disused medical radiation device before U.S. and Guatemalan teams removed the radioactive component and transported it to secure storage in the United States.

The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced the operation Thursday, saying it was part of a broader effort to prevent dangerous radioactive materials from falling into the hands of terrorists and other adversaries.

The operation began in May, when specialists from the NNSA's Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico worked with a facility in Guatemala to remove part of a U.S.-origin teletherapy machine containing cobalt-60.

Guatemalan officials assisted with transportation, logistics and physical security.

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Cobalt-60 is used in medical devices to treat cancer, but the NNSA said highly radioactive sources can pose a security threat if stolen. The agency said the material removed from Guatemala could have been used to create a radiological weapon, commonly known as a "dirty bomb."

The removal comes as the Trump administration emphasizes preventing terrorists from obtaining chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. The administration's 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy identifies preventing terrorists from acquiring such weapons as a critical U.S. national security responsibility.

"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," Matthew Napoli, deputy administrator for the NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, said.

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"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," Napoli added.

Guatemala's National Centre of Radioactive Wastes and Ministry of Energy and Mines provided transportation, logistical and physical security support during the operation, according to the NNSA.

"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," Mayra Villatoro, head of the Unit of Technical Laboratories at Guatemala's Ministry of Energy and Mines, said.

After the NNSA securely packaged the cobalt-60 component, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) provided secure transportation back to the U.S.

"The successful repatriation of the cobalt-60 source is a product of vital U.S. Government interagency cooperation," Robert Bridges, DTRA program manager of Nuclear Transportation & Disposition, said. "We are proud to work with NNSA to take meaningful action in their mission to eliminate radiological risk and keep America safe."

The operation is part of the NNSA Office of Radiological Security's work with foreign governments and other partners to remove high-activity radioactive material and strengthen protections around radioactive sources.

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