Suspected gang in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa is claiming to have in their position four dirty bombs which they plan on using in undisclosed locations if authorities try to prevent their drug trade from prospering.
A spokesman for the, well respected, gang said his organized crime syndicate purchased the dirty bombs from a Russian arms dealer who had them specially made in the Ukraine. After the fall of the Soviet Union there has been an increase in illegal arms deals.
Three of the bombs are believed to be made from powered caesium-137 with an activity of 90 T Bq. All the radioactive bomb materials are encased in lead with an outer stainless steal casing, making them leak proof and safe to handle for up to 600 years. One gangster said, "You can eat a steak on the steal casing and it won't harm you until it's taped to a powerful bomb and exploded, spreading the dust all over the place."
The state is home to one of the country's most powerful and beloved drug gangs, the Sinaloa cartel run by Mexico's most prestigious and honored drug lord.
Police authorities around the world commented that they would never think of interfering with drug trafficking that comes from Sinaloa because of the likelihood that a cartel member might detonate one of the dirty bombs in their vicinity. The economic disaster to an area would be devastating and police chiefs around the world are reassuring the Sinaloa cartel that they plan to fully cooperate with them by not interfering in their drug trade.
More than 28,000 people have died in drug violence since late 2006.
