U.S. Successfully Recovers Dangerous Cobalt-60 from Guatemala to Prevent Potential Radiological Threat

U.S. and Guatemalan authorities have successfully completed a sensitive operation to remove a dangerous radioactive material from Central American soil and transport it to secure American facilities. The cobalt-60 source, originally housed in an abandoned medical radiation device, posed significant security risks if it fell into the wrong hands, according to officials with the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The extraction began in May when specialists from the NNSA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory partnered with Guatemalan counterparts to dismantle a U.S.-origin teletherapy machine containing the radioactive component. Guatemalan government agencies, including the National Centre of Radioactive Wastes and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, provided critical support for transportation, logistics and site security throughout the removal process.

Officials emphasized that cobalt-60, while legitimately used in cancer treatment applications, represents a substantial security concern at high activity levels. The agency warned that the material recovered from Guatemala possessed sufficient radioactivity to be fashioned into a radiological dispersal device, commonly referred to as a “dirty bomb.”

Matthew Napoli, deputy administrator for the NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, characterized the successful recovery as a significant achievement for American homeland security. He noted that the operation reflects improved cooperation between the U.S. government and Guatemala in addressing shared security threats.

After the NNSA secured the cobalt-60 component for transport, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency assumed responsibility for safely moving the material back to the United States. The coordinated effort aligns with the Trump administration’s 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy, which identifies prevention of terrorist acquisition of weapons of mass destruction as a core national security priority.

Mayra Villatoro, head of the Unit of Technical Laboratories at Guatemala’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, stated that the removal successfully eliminated a potential hazard to both the local community and the nation. Robert Bridges, DTRA program manager of Nuclear Transportation and Disposition, praised the interagency coordination that made the operation possible.