From 19-23 June, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) conducted a training course on covert operations to intercept the trafficking of radiological and nuclear (RN) materials at the SSSG Training Center.
The training, addressed to case officers, was part of Phase II of the CONTACT – Black Sea project, which aims to collaborate with national training institutions to incorporate counter-trafficking training on radiological and nuclear materials into their existing systems. The training marks the first in a series of courses organized and delivered by the SSSG Training Center with the support of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).
During the 5-day training course, 12 participants from the SSSG Counterintelligence Department and Special Operations Department were equipped with essential knowledge on radioactive and nuclear materials, the national nuclear detection architecture, the legal framework, and intelligence operations related to intercepting attempts of trafficking such materials. The training was conducted by instructors from the SSSG and Agency for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (ANRS), who themselves received training under the CONTACT – Black Sea project.
About CONTACT
On June 1, 2020, UNICRI launched the project “CONTACT - Black Sea: Enhancing capacities to prevent the trafficking of radiological and nuclear material in the Black Sea region”. The project aims to enhance the capacities of security and law enforcement officials in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to prevent and counter trafficking of radiological and nuclear material. The project also aims to foster regional cooperation and exchange of information on RN trafficking-related incidents. UNICRI is responsible for implementing the project, which is jointly funded by the United Kingdom Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero (UK DESNZ), the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), and the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
