Ricin Toxin: The Challenge of Chemical Terrorism

Context

• Recently, the Gujarat ATS busted a major terrorist network, with some suspects accused of preparing and using Ricin Poison to carry out terrorist attacks.
• This indicates that digital literature, secret conversations on social media, arms sharing, and the use of chemical poisons are becoming new methods of terrorist activities in India.

What is Ricin?

• It is a highly lethal toxin that, upon entering the human body, stops protein synthesis in cells, potentially leading to death within hours.
• This toxin is considered to be the most toxic of any naturally occurring plant toxin. Scientifically, it is derived from the Ricinus communis plant.

Structure

• Ricin is a protein-based toxin. It is found in the residue of oil extracted from castor beans.
• Castor bean mash contains high levels of ricin.

Properties

• Highly lethal: even a few milligrams can cause death.
• Colorless, tasteless, and odorless: difficult to identify
• Dose-dependent effects: effects vary by inhalation, ingestion, or injection
• Inactive when burned but highly stable at room temperature.
• There is no known antidote.
• Technically, it is not very difficult to manufacture because the source is readily available.

Use in Terrorism

Ricin is seen as a chemical weapon worldwide because:

• It can cause massive damage in very small quantities.
• It does not require large laboratory equipment for preparation.
• It can be easily concealed (powder/solution/capsule).
• Terrorist groups use it for targeted killings or to spread mass hysteria.

International Examples

• ISIS, ISKP, and some lone attackers have attempted to produce it.
• In 2013, letters addressed to US President Obama were also laced with risin.

Recent Incident in India

Recent operations by the Gujarat ATS have indicated that the suspected perpetrators were connected to an ISKP-linked handler and were in the process of preparing risin, posing a new threat of chemical terrorism in India.

Challenges

• Difficult detection
  • Ricin cannot be identified by standard security systems
• Dark web and digital literature
  • Proliferation of materials like 'How to Make Ricin' on the internet
• Easy availability of raw materials
  • Extensive castor seed and castor oil industry in India
• Security agencies require scientific expertise
• Treatment difficult without an antidote
• Secret communication and encryption on social media
• Collaboration with international networks
  • Sometimes, foreign organizations provide instructions to the permanent module.

Way Forward

• Development of advanced laboratories and kits for chemical-biological weapons detection
• Regular training for national security agencies on toxins and biological-chemical terrorism
• Stricter regulations on the sale, storage, and purchase of toxins
• Online hazardous material monitoring and blocking
• Surveillance and reporting system at castor oil processing units
• Inter-agency coordination between the ATS, NIA, IB, DRDO, and the Ministry of Health
• Public awareness about the misuse of hazardous chemicals 
• Sharing chemical threat intelligence with Interpol, Europol, and the World Health Organization