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Arrest in Thailand for Selling Radioactive Material
Aired June 13, 2003 - 13:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: We're going to move on this afternoon to Kelli Arena with information coming to us about an undercover operation in Thailand -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The U.S. officials tell CNN that undercover police in Thailand have arrested an individual who allegedly tried to sell undercover agents material that could be used to make a radioactive dirty bomb.
The gentleman's name, we are told, is Narong Penanam. He is in custody in Thailand, and it's not clear at this point whether or not he has any connection to any terrorist group or is just trying to make a profit in a deal.
And there's also no information that the bomb or the materials were to be used in any plot against the United States.
We are expecting to hear more officially later on this afternoon. But right now, what we can confirm is that the arrest was made, the gentleman is in custody, and he did, in fact, turn over to investigators in Thailand a material called cesium-137, which, I am told by U.S. officials, can be used to make a radioactive dirty bomb.
Back to you.
COLLINS: Kelli, I know it is certainly early on this story and we are learning things as they develop. But just wondering if you have any idea at this point -- I'm understanding that this information came to U.S. investigators. Have they been watching this particular individual, then, for quite some time?
ARENA: Well, the original tip came from the immigration and customs enforcement agency, the customs service here in the United States, who gave intelligence, passed on intelligence to Thai officials.
I'm not exactly clear on how long U.S. investigators were developing this information, but I do know that the information was passed very recently to Thai officials and that they were obviously able to set up a sting operation to catch the individual. As I said, I'm not sure if this dates back weeks or months.
We'll try to get more information to you as soon as we can.
COLLINS: We know you will. And thanks so much, Kelli Arena. We'll check back in with you a little bit later.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 13, 2003 - 13:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: We're going to move on this afternoon to Kelli Arena with information coming to us about an undercover operation in Thailand -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The U.S. officials tell CNN that undercover police in Thailand have arrested an individual who allegedly tried to sell undercover agents material that could be used to make a radioactive dirty bomb.
The gentleman's name, we are told, is Narong Penanam. He is in custody in Thailand, and it's not clear at this point whether or not he has any connection to any terrorist group or is just trying to make a profit in a deal.
And there's also no information that the bomb or the materials were to be used in any plot against the United States.
We are expecting to hear more officially later on this afternoon. But right now, what we can confirm is that the arrest was made, the gentleman is in custody, and he did, in fact, turn over to investigators in Thailand a material called cesium-137, which, I am told by U.S. officials, can be used to make a radioactive dirty bomb.
Back to you.
COLLINS: Kelli, I know it is certainly early on this story and we are learning things as they develop. But just wondering if you have any idea at this point -- I'm understanding that this information came to U.S. investigators. Have they been watching this particular individual, then, for quite some time?
ARENA: Well, the original tip came from the immigration and customs enforcement agency, the customs service here in the United States, who gave intelligence, passed on intelligence to Thai officials.
I'm not exactly clear on how long U.S. investigators were developing this information, but I do know that the information was passed very recently to Thai officials and that they were obviously able to set up a sting operation to catch the individual. As I said, I'm not sure if this dates back weeks or months.
We'll try to get more information to you as soon as we can.
COLLINS: We know you will. And thanks so much, Kelli Arena. We'll check back in with you a little bit later.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
