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.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
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.