Officials Seize Radioactive Material in Covert Operation
Three Chinese men have been arrested in Georgia after allegedly trying to acquire uranium through an illegal transaction. The State Security Service confirmed that the suspects were detained in Tbilisi during a sting operation, where they attempted to purchase about two kilograms of the substance for roughly $400,000. The uranium was recovered by authorities and transported to a secure site for analysis.
Suspects Planned Route Through Russia to China
Investigators said the group intended to move the uranium out of Georgia and into China, using Russia as a transfer point. One of the suspects had entered Georgia without proper documentation, while the others are believed to have coordinated elements of the plan from abroad. Police raids carried out in Tbilisi and the coastal city of Batumi uncovered additional materials linked to the deal.
Criminal Charges and Broader Security Context
The detainees have been charged with the illegal handling and attempted trafficking of nuclear material, violations that carry sentences of up to ten years under Georgian law. Officials described the case as part of a wider effort to disrupt the illicit trade in radioactive substances, warning that such activity continues to pose significant risks to international security.
