The U.S. removes a radioactive cobalt-60 material used in a disused cancer-treatment device from Guatemala, citing concerns about the risk if it were stolen. Officials say the material is being taken out to reduce the possibility that it could be misused.
The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) describes the action as a security measure. Across reporting, both outlets say the concern centers on whether an adversary or terrorists could obtain the source and use it as part of a so-called “dirty bomb.” The decision is presented as part of efforts to manage and secure high-risk radioactive materials, particularly when they remain in equipment outside active medical use.
While the reporting focuses on the security threat associated with theft, it does not provide extensive detail on the exact removal timeline or the specific receiving destination, focusing instead on the nature of the threat and the material involved.
