Mexican authorities recover stolen radioactive material

MEXICO CITY – Mexican authorities say they have recovered radioactive material that was stolen in a southwestern borough of the capital.

Mexico City’s civil defence office said an anonymous caller offered to return the material, which was taken from a vehicle belonging to a local radiography supplier in the Alvaro Obregon district earlier this month.

The office said Monday that the container holding the material had not been opened.

The container had Iridium-192, a radioactive isotope used in construction and manufacturing.

Authorities previously warned people to establish a safety perimeter of at least 100 feet (30 metres) if the material was found.

There have been several such thefts in Mexico in recent years.