Cesium-137 Waste Stolen In Cikande, Serang Police Arrest 4 Perpetrators

SERANG - Serang Resort Police (Polres), Banten Police, arrested four people involved in an iron waste theft syndicate contaminated with radioactive Cesium-137 from a company in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate, Serang Regency, Banten.

Serang Police Chief, AKBP Condro Sasongko, said the case involved two security officers with the initials SA and MZ, the main perpetrator of the theft with the initials RO (26), and a dealer with the initials SM (29).

"This case is not only related to theft, but also endangers the community because the goods taken are radioactively contaminated waste," Condro said, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 11.

Condro explained that the disclosure of the case began with information circulating on social media regarding the alleged theft at PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT), where the goods were stored, contaminated with Cesium-137 from the task force operation.

Based on the investigation by the Cikande Police Criminal Investigation Unit Opsnal Team, the police initially arrested RO in Bandung District, Monday (8/12). From RO's statement, it was revealed the involvement of two security personnel who facilitated access to the hazardous waste storage area.

The police then developed a case and arrested SM, the owner of a waste stall in Bandung District that houses the stolen goods.

Given the high risk of danger, investigators coordinated with the KBRN Team of the Gegana Detachment of the Banten Police Satbrimob to check the area of collectors.

"The results of the examination show that several types of waste have radiation levels detected by the tool. Currently, the location of the stall has been sterilized by the Gegana Team," he said.

The Serang Police Chief appealed to the public not to buy or move goods that could potentially contain radioactive substances without official permission for mutual safety.