US, Japan set up joint nuclear police to fight smuggling

The group will include scientific experts as well as staff members of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Japanese police, a high official of the American administration has told the Kyodo news agency.

The official said that already now it is possible to determine confidently enough, on the strength of the composition of isotopes, where this or that radioactive material was produced. However, the joint group intends to suggest general rules for performing such expert examinations, the rules that would be recognized by main countries.

Analysts in Washington and Tokyo regard an exact identification of the source of a leaked radioactive substance as an important means to consolidate the nuclear weapons' non-proliferation regime. The joint "nuclear police" of the two countries also intend to carry out concrete operations to cut off smuggling channels and give expert assistance to other countries.