Over half of thefts involving nuclear and other radioactive material reported to the Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) since 1993 occurred during authorized transport, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) database showed this week.
More often than not, stolen radioactive material is not recovered, IAEA also said.
The ITDB is IAEA’s collection of illicit trafficking incidents, including other unauthorized activities involving nuclear and radioactive material.
Of the 4,626 incidents reported to ITDB from 1993 to 2025, 730 were thefts, or attempted thefts, of radioactive material. While 55% of thefts in the past 33 years occurred during transport, that share rose to 70% in the past decade, according to the Monday release by IAEA. Additionally, of the transport-related cases since 1993, more than 59%, or 400 incidents, did not involve a recovery of the stolen radioactive material.
“Nuclear and other radioactive material remains vulnerable to security threats during transport, and data from the ITDB underscores the continued need to strengthen security,” Elena Buglova, director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security, said in the release. “The IAEA assists countries, upon request, in enhancing their national nuclear security regimes to ensure that such materials are securely managed and fully protected against criminal or intentional unauthorized acts during their transport.”