"Reports of illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive material demonstrate the problem's global dimensions and the importance of building up systems to detect and prevent cases," Anita Nilsson, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Office of Nuclear Security, says.

The IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database contains more than 1,000 confirmed incidents of illicit nuclear trafficking reported over the past 15 years. Samples of seized nuclear and radioactive material but there's not enough of them, officials said in an IAEA release.

IAEA says a new study warns that a serious shortage of nuclear forensic specialists is jeopardizing analytical capabilities essential to prevent trafficking and potential terrorism.