Date of seizure: May, 1994 Amount of material: 6.15 grams of plutonium (99.78% enrichment) In a raid on the house of Adolf Jaekle, a German businessman under investigation for counterfeiting, police unexpectedly discovered a small lead cylinder in his garage. It was found to contain 6.15 grams of nearly-pure plutonium-239. Jaekle denied involvement in nuclear smuggling and claimed that the plutonium sample was planted on his property. The original source of this material remains unclear, but the prevailing hypothesis is that it came from a research laboratory in the former Soviet Union or Eastern Europe. Its purity suggests that it may have been a standards sample used to calibrate equipment. This case is important in that it is the sole seizure of a significant quantity of nuclear material smuggled into Europe which was not seized as a result of police "sting" operations. Jaekle was found guilty and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. Maps  ·  Timeline  ·  Interviews  ·  FAQS  ·  Links Readings  ·  Reactions  ·  Tapes and Transcripts Explore FRONTLINE web site copyright 1995-2008 WGBH educational foundation