The containers arrived in Indonesia via Tanjung Priok Port, where Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) detected elevated radiation levels exceeding the established threshold, triggering alarms on five of the nine containers.
“According to the documents, the containers—filled with zinc concentrate powder—originated from the Philippines and should not have triggered an alarm on the RPM unit,” said Head of Bapeten’s Legal, Cooperation, and Public Communications Bureau, Ishak, on Monday.
The agency then conducted a secondary inspection to verify the RPM readings and identify the source of the radiation.
Inspection results revealed that the containers which triggered the alarms had been exposed to radiation doses up to 210 times higher than the background level.
Further analysis using radionuclide identification equipment confirmed that the radiation originated from Cs-137 nuclides inside the containers.
“To determine whether the Cs-137 was inside the containers or merely contamination on the outer walls, the Mobile Expert Support Team (MEST) conducted swab tests. The results showed no contamination on the outer surfaces, confirming that the Cs-137 nuclides were inside,” Ishak explained.
Additional inspections were carried out on the four containers that did not trigger RPM alarms, which also showed radiation dose rates above background levels.
Radionuclide identification and swab tests confirmed the presence of Cs-137 in those containers as well.
“Bapeten recommends that all contaminated containers be returned to their country of origin, the Philippines, due to confirmed Cs-137 contamination,” Ishak stated.
The Tanjung Priok Customs Office and the importers will immediately begin processing the return of all affected containers.
Previously, on September 11, 2025, Bapeten and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise also successfully blocked the entry of Cs-137-contaminated imported goods, which were subsequently returned to their country of origin.
Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
