Radioactive materials found in steel plant during raid in Davao, Philippines
Elements of the Philippines' National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission discovered unlicensed radioactive materials and substandard steel products during a raid of the Mighty Steel Plant manufacturing facility in Davao City on Friday 14 August.
According to various Philippine sources, a technical examination conducted during the raid discovered several radioactive isotopes, including uranium-238, thorium-228, thorium-232 and radium-226, in the facility. The raid also "rescued" 174 steelworkers from "an industrial environment subsequently found to contain radioactive-bearing materials, dust, fumes, wastes and production residues".
21 individuals - consisting of nine Filipinos and 12 Chinese - were arrested and charges are being prepared by prosecutors. These 21 people are reported to be "responsible corporate officers" consisting of plant managers, supervisors and administrative personnel.
The raiding team was led by NBI director Atty Melvin Matibag and PAOCC executive director undersecretary Benjamin Acorda Jr. According to a PAOCC statement, the radioactive materials "were found in finished Davao Mighty Steel rebars, furnace-related materials, residual black sand, industrial powders, dust, wastes, wastewater, and other production and stored materials".
