Security Service Foils Radioactive Material Deal in Tbilisi
Three Chinese citizens have been taken into custody in Georgia for allegedly trying to obtain uranium through an illegal sale. The country’s State Security Service reported that the suspects were detained in Tbilisi during a planned sting operation, as they attempted to buy around two kilograms of radioactive material for approximately $400,000. The seized uranium was later secured and examined by nuclear safety experts.
Plot Spanned Multiple Countries, Officials Say
Investigators believe the suspects planned to move the uranium from Georgia into China, traveling through Russian territory. One of the accused was living in Georgia without proper documentation, while the others are suspected of directing and financing the scheme from abroad. Law enforcement officials carried out searches at several properties in Tbilisi and Batumi, discovering evidence that tied the group to the attempted transaction.
Suspects Face Lengthy Prison Terms if Convicted
The men have been charged with attempting to traffic and possess radioactive substances illegally, crimes that can lead to up to ten years in prison under Georgian law. Authorities emphasized that the arrests demonstrate the country’s ongoing efforts to disrupt nuclear smuggling networks and prevent the circulation of dangerous materials capable of posing serious international security threats.
