Jakarta. Indonesia has launched a criminal investigation into a radioactive contamination case in the Banten province, after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first detected traces of Cesium-137 in imported seafood samples.

Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said Monday the case had been escalated from preliminary inquiry to full investigation by the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, signaling possible criminal violations linked to improper handling or import of radioactive materials.

“Legally, the case of Cesium-137 radiation has now been raised to the investigation stage,” Hanif told reporters in Serang, Banten, as quoted by state news agency Antara. “This is part of an integrated government effort to resolve a case that poses high risks to public safety and the environment.”

Authorities are probing two main potential sources of contamination --imported scrap metal that may have contained radioactive waste, and possible leaks from commercial use of Cesium-137--. Hanif said investigators are working closely with the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) to identify the origin of the material.

The contamination was first uncovered after the US FDA detected traces of Cesium-137 in frozen shrimp exported from Indonesia in August. The shrimp, produced by Bahari Makmur Sejati, was recalled before entering US commerce, but the finding triggered further inspections by Indonesian authorities.

A task force later found Cesium-137 in at least 22 production and processing facilities in Cikande Industrial Park, Serang Regency, including Bahari Makmur Sejati’s plant, which has since undergone decontamination.

The government has since suspended imports of scrap iron and steel while the Trade Ministry temporarily halted import licenses for affected companies pending a review of monitoring systems. “All investigative processes are being carried out carefully to ensure this never happens again,” Hanif said.

Decontamination is underway at ten sites confirmed to have been exposed to radiation, with the most contaminated units prioritized for cleanup within a week. The government expects the full process to be completed in one month.

The Health Ministry, in coordination with local governments and social agencies, is monitoring residents and workers for possible health impacts, though no severe cases have been reported.

“This cross-sectoral approach is meant to ensure public confidence and safety,” Hanif said, adding that the incident underscores the urgency for Indonesia to tighten its radioactive material oversight.

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