Georgia Detains Two Trying to Sell Illicit Uranium Worth $3M

In Batumi, Georgia, two individuals — a Georgian citizen and a foreign national — were detained for the illicit sale and purchase of nuclear material, namely radioactive uranium. The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) reported this on Thursday, 17 July.  

According to the SSSG, the agreement between the detainees involved the illicit sale of uranium for $3 million. Based on the levels of alpha and gamma radiation and the characteristics of the source, the seized uranium could be used in explosive devices, terrorist acts, etc.

The arrest took place during a joint operation conducted by the SSSG’s Counterintelligence Department and Special Operations Department. An investigation has been launched under Article 230 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which provides for liability for the illicit management of nuclear materials, equipment, radioactive waste, and substances. If convicted, the offenders face imprisonment for a term of five to ten years.

Over the past decades, Georgia has witnessed several serious incidents involving the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials. Particularly in 2023, a suspect was planning to sell uranium in the city of Poti for $2 million. In 2021, the SSSG detained two individuals in Kutaisi who attempted to sell the isotope americium-241 for €300,000. In 2019, Georgia said it had detained two people for handling and trying to sell $2.8 million worth of Uranium-238. In 2016, during two separate special operations, 12 individuals were arrested for attempting to sell uranium-238 and uranium-235 for a total of approximately $203 million. In 2014, two Armenian citizens were caught in Georgia attempting to smuggle cesium-137 into the country.