BAPETEN’s Mobile Expert Support Team (MEST) conducted on-site secondary inspections of all the containers to identify the primary source of the elevated radiation levels. Further examination concluded that the five containers triggering the alarms exhibited radiation dose rates significantly higher than background levels, reaching up to 210 times the background rate.

In addition to the five containers that triggered the alarms, BAPETEN’s MEST also inspected the remaining four containers. These follow-up inspections revealed radiation dose rates exceeding background levels in those four containers as well. MEST identified the radionuclides present within the containers and detected the presence of the Cs-137 nuclide.

Subsequently, to determine whether the Cs-137 was located inside the containers or if the outer walls were contaminated, swab tests were performed on the container surfaces. The test results indicated that the Cs-137 nuclide was contained within the units and had not contaminated the outer walls.

BAPETEN recommended returning all the containers to their country of origin, given the confirmed presence of Cs-137 contamination inside them. The Tanjung Priok Customs and Excise KPU and the importer will proceed with returning all the contaminated containers to the Philippines. Previously, BAPETEN and DJBC successfully prevented the entry of 14 containers of imported products contaminated with the radioactive substance Cs-137 on September 11, 2025. All of these containers were re-exported to the Philippines on September 21, 2025. [BHKK/Da/AQ/Translator: GP]