Police in northern Turkey's Bolu province seized $72 million worth of radioactive Californium, an element used in nuclear weapons and reactors, local authorities said Saturday.
Some 18.1 grams (0.638 ounces) of Californium was seized in a car by anti-smuggling and organized crime police. Five suspects were reportedly being investigated over the incident.
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The substance was found stashed under the gear shifter wrapped in a bag. Officers had to cut the upholstery to get to the parcel, RT news reported.
The substance was taken to the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority for a detailed analysis.
Californium is a radioactive chemical element first synthesized at the University of California, Berkeley in 1950. It is considered highly dangerous.
It was not the first time Turkish police reported a major bust involving suspected Californium.
In March 2018, police in Ankara seized a whopping 1.4 kilograms (3.1 pounds) of a substance, believed to be Californium, in a car following a tipoff. That time, however, the substance turned out to be organic with no nuclear or radioactive properties.
Currently, the US and Russia are the only producers of Californium.
