Authorities in the country of Georgia say they have disrupted a major nuclear smuggling attempt involving several Chinese nationals accused of buying uranium on the black market, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced on Saturday that three Chinese citizens were arrested in Tbilisi while trying to illegally buy about 4.4 pounds of uranium for $400,000, the newspaper said.
Officials said the suspects planned to ship the nuclear material to China via Russia, the newspaper reported.
“Three Chinese citizens were arrested in Tbilisi while trying to illegally purchase 2 kilograms of nuclear material – uranium,” the agency said, according to the AP.
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Officials arrest multiple Chinese nationals in Georgia over uranium trafficking plot. (State Security Service of Georgia)
Video footage released by the agency shows security officers in the Georgian capital seizing bottles containing uranium and arresting several people on the spot.
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Two bottles with the identification of uranium were seized in Tbilisi, Georgia, this weekend. (State Security Service of Georgia)
According to the SSSG, one of the suspects was overstayed and living illegally in Georgia, the AP reported. He is said to have led efforts to locate and acquire the radioactive material, even bringing in experts from abroad to help, the outlet added. Other members of the group reportedly coordinated the operation from China.
The perpetrators were identified and detained while they “negotiated the details of the illegal transaction,” the security service said.
The agency did not specify when the arrests occurred or provide the identities of the suspects.
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Georgian officials escort a suspect after authorities foiled a uranium smuggling plot in Tbilisi. (State Security Service of Georgia)
The latest arrests follow a similar case in July, when Georgian authorities arrested a foreigner and a Georgian national accused of planning to sell $3 million worth of uranium. Officials said material could have been used to build explosives or carry out terrorist attacks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
