IS terrorists trying to access nuclear materials via Europe

CHISINAU, Moldova (Web Desk) - Moldovan police working with the FBI are reported to have stopped four attempts by smugglers to sell nuclear material to the extremists in the Middle East over the past five years.

The most recent case was in February when undercover agents were offered a large amount of radioactive caesium, the BBC reports.

Investigators say much of the material is believed to come from Russia. They say some gangs have alleged links to Russia's intelligence services.

Police and judicial authorities in Eastern European country of Moldova shared information with an American news agency, Associated Press, to highlight how dangerous the nuclear black market has become.

They say the deterioration in relations between Russia and the West has made it more difficult to know whether smugglers are succeeding in selling radioactive material “originating from Russia abroad”.

Moldova is a former Soviet republic.

"We can expect more of these cases," said Moldovan police officer Constantin Malic, who investigated all four cases.

"As long as the smugglers think they can make big money without getting caught, they will keep doing it."

In many cases seen by the American news agency, deals were broken up by police in the early stages but ringleaders managed to escape - possibly with their nuclear contraband.

In the case involving the caesium, the would-be smuggler wanted 2.5m euros (£1.8m) for enough radioactive material to contaminate several city streets - and specifically sought a buyer from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

At a club in the Moldovan capital Chisinau he told a potential client - who was really an informant: "You can make a dirty bomb, which would be perfect for the Islamic State. If you have a connection with them, the business will go smoothly."

A sample vial of less-radioactive caesium 135 was produced and police pounced, arresting the man and two others.

In 2010 three people were arrested after a sawn-off piece of a depleted uranium cylinder was exchanged for cash, the American news agency reports. In 2011, investigators broke up a deal to sell weapons-grade uranium to a potential buyer in the Middle East.

Late last year a sample of unenriched uranium was exchanged for $15,000 (£9,800). Six people were arrested but five got away, the agency said.

It is not clear whether the cases in Moldova indicate a more widespread nuclear smuggling operations, the report says.

Eric Lund, spokesman for the US State Department's bureau in charge of non-proliferation said Moldova had taken "many important steps" to strengthen its counter nuclear smuggling capabilities.