Officials Interrupt Sale of Radioactive Material
Authorities in Georgia have arrested three Chinese nationals accused of attempting to buy uranium through an illicit deal. The State Security Service confirmed that the suspects were detained in Tbilisi after they tried to secure roughly two kilograms of the radioactive substance in exchange for about $400,000. The uranium was immediately seized by officials and sent for expert examination and safe storage.
Group Planned to Move Uranium via Russia
According to investigators, the men intended to smuggle the uranium from Georgia to China, with Russia serving as a transit route. One of the suspects had reportedly entered Georgia illegally, while others are believed to have organized parts of the operation from abroad. Searches conducted at multiple residences in Tbilisi and Batumi uncovered materials and communications related to the failed transaction.
Facing Charges Under Georgia’s Nuclear Safety Laws
The suspects have been formally charged with the illegal possession and trafficking of radioactive materials, crimes punishable by up to ten years in prison. Georgian officials said the arrests highlight ongoing risks posed by nuclear smuggling operations and reaffirmed the nation’s cooperation with international partners to prevent the spread of dangerous materials across borders.
