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Radiation detection system launched at Bulgaria's border checkpoints

Xinhua, October 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

A radiation detection system that covers all of Bulgarian border checkpoints with non-European Union (EU) members was officially launched here on Tuesday.

The equipment at a cost of some 35 million U.S. dollars, donated by the United States government, was deployed on 20 land, sea and air checkpoints as well as two sites on the border with Romania, according to officials.

Philip Gounev, Bulgaria's Deputy Minister of Interior, said at the launching ceremony at Sofia Airport that this project contributed to improving the security of his country and the EU in times of significant challenges posed by the threats of terrorism and the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

Miroslav Georgiev, head of "Specialized Monitoring of Border Checkpoints" department at Bulgarian Border Police, told reporters that in recent years, the authorities have not identified cases of an intentional transfer of radioactive materials across the borders.

However, three trucks carrying timber contaminated with radiation coming from the region of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine were detected at the end of last year on the border with Romania, Georgiev said. Endit