Three Chinese nationals have been arrested in Georgia on suspicion of attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms of uranium, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Lasha Maghradze, Deputy Director of Georgia’s State Security Service (SSG), told a press conference that the group planned to pay $400,000 (approximately £300,570) for the radioactive material in Tbilisi, before transporting it to China via Russia, reports BBC.
“The suspected plot was uncovered by intelligence agents while one member of the group tried to buy the radioactive substance on the black market,” Maghradze said.
Legal Proceedings and Detention
The three individuals pleaded not guilty in a Tbilisi court and were placed in pre-trial detention to prevent them from leaving the country, according to public broadcaster Georgia Today.
Under Georgian law, they face up to five years in prison for attempting to purchase nuclear material, a serious offense under the country’s criminal code.
Security Concerns in Georgia
Georgia has maintained reserves of nuclear material since the dissolution of the former Soviet Union in 1991, and the safety and security of these materials have been a longstanding concern. Authorities emphasized that monitoring and preventing the illegal sale of radioactive substances is a top national security priority.
