CBRN event in Spain on Wed 5th February 1997

General Electric (GE) provides to ENUSA, Spanish fuelmaker, with uranium oxide enriched in U-235. The material travels from USA to Spain in special cans mechanically sealed within a sea container. Upon taking out the material, ENUSA sends the empty cans back to GE in the USA.
On 1997-02-05, the ENUSA fuel making plant located in Juzbado, province of Salamanca, dispatched a shipment of 150 supposedly empty cans to USA. Upon receiving the shipment, GE noticed on 1997-03-06 that there were 2 cans containing in all 102.42 kg of uranium oxide enriched on average of 3.5% U-235. Estimated activity of the material is around 8E+9 Bq, however outer surface of cans and sea container were found clean. GE informed ENUSA and American authorities.
According to point IV-5-1-2 of the INES Manual, superseded for point C3.3 of the October96 addendum, "Permanent Loss or Discovery in an Inappropriate Location of Radioactive Sources" the event was rated level 1. Should the point IV-5.2.6 "Transport of Unirradiated Nuclear Fuel Material" be used the rating would also be that of a level 1.