Information Notice No.80-18 – Possible Weapons Smuggling Pouch

                                                             SSINS No. 6870  
                                                             Accessions No.: 
                                                             8002280673      

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
                          WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555  
                                     
                                May 5, 1980  

                                           Information Notice No. 80-18 

POSSIBLE WEAPONS SMUGGLING POUCH 

The NRC recently received information concerning a device used for smuggling
that can preclude detection of weapons by security X-ray machines. The 
device is described as a gray, metalfoil pouch measuring approximately 20" x 
12" which can be folded to wallet size when not in use. When in use, X-ray 
images produce only a mottled picture with no indications of a solid mass 
such as that of a weapon or similar contraband. 

The same material used to construct the pouch has been used to line hollow 
compartments of hand-carried packages and parcels such as attache and 
cosmetic cases. 

The pouch is reported to look something like a leadlined pouch sold in the 
U.S. to protect film from harmful X-ray effect, except that the U.S. 
manufactured pouch distinctly reveals the silhouette of any solid mass 
content such as that produced by a gun when subjected to X-ray.