Three Chinese nationals were arrested in Georgia on suspicion of trying to illegally purchase 2 kilograms of uranium. Lasha Maghradze, the deputy head of the State Security Service (SSG), reported that the group intended to pay $400,000 (£300,570) for the uranium in Tbilisi and planned to transport it to China via Russia.
The alleged scheme came to light when intelligence agents discovered one of the suspects attempting to buy the radioactive material on the black market. The three individuals have pleaded not guilty at a Tbilisi court and are currently in custody to prevent potential flight from the country. They face a maximum of five years in prison under Georgian law that prohibits the purchase of nuclear materials.
Maghradze stated that the operation involved coordination with other group members located in China. Footage released by the SSG showed armed soldiers detaining the suspects and revealed two glass jars containing a yellow substance in the boot of a car, which has been identified as uranium.
The specific isotope of uranium that the individuals sought remains unclear, raising questions about their intentions for the material. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia retained some nuclear materials, and securing these stocks has been a significant concern. There have been multiple incidents over the years involving the illegal sale of uranium.
In July, authorities arrested two individuals—one Georgian and one Turkish—while they attempted to trade uranium valued at $3 million, highlighting ongoing issues related to nuclear material security in the region.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjdgv6z3l9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss