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Three Chinese citizens have been arrested in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, for attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of uranium, according to the country’s State Security Service on Saturday. The suspects intended to transport the nuclear material to China via Russia, the security service reported in a statement. They also released video footage showing the detention operation. “Three Chinese citizens have been detained in Tbilisi while attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms of nuclear material — uranium,” the agency was quoted as saying by the Reuters. Sharing further details, Georgia State Security Service also said that members of the criminal group planned to pay $400,000 (Rs 3,51,29,600) for the radioactive material. As per the authorities, a Chinese citizen already in Georgia, who was in breach of Georgian visa regulations, brought experts to Georgia to search for uranium throughout the country. Other members of the criminal group coordinated the operation from China, the statement said. The perpetrators were identified and detained while “negotiating the details of the illegal transaction,” the security service said. The agency did not disclose when the arrests took place or the identities of the suspects.
