Georgia has detained three Chinese nationals while attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms of uranium, State Security Service of Georgia said Saturday.
"Three Chinese citizens have been detained in Tbilisi while attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms of nuclear material - uranium," the agency said, adding that members of the criminal group planned to pay $400,000 for the radioactive material. Footage published by the agency depicts security personnel in Georgia’s capital confiscating containers said to hold uranium and taking several suspects into custody at the location.
The suspects intended to traffic the uranium to China via Russian territory, the Security Service said. Officials stated that a Chinese national already residing in Georgia, who had violated the country’s visa rules, arranged for specialists to travel to Georgia to conduct a nationwide search for uranium.
According to the statement, other members of the criminal network directed the operation from China.
The security service reported that the suspects were identified and apprehended while they were “discussing the terms of the illicit deal.”
The agency did not disclose the timing of the arrests or reveal the names of those detained.
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