Georgian and Turkish nationals arrested in Batumi for attempting to traffic uranium in a case officials say posed a grave threat to global security.
Tbilisi, Georgia —
Georgia’s State Security Service announced on Thursday the arrest of two suspects involved in an attempted sale of uranium valued at $3 million, in what officials describe as a serious case of transnational nuclear smuggling.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the suspects—one Georgian and one Turkish citizen—were detained in the coastal city of Batumi. Investigators say the Georgian suspect illegally acquired and stored the radioactive material before arranging to sell it to the Turkish national.
Both individuals now face up to 10 years in prison if convicted under Georgian criminal code provisions related to nuclear material trafficking.
Authorities emphasized the global implications of the attempted transaction, warning that the uranium could potentially have been used to manufacture a radiological or nuclear device capable of causing mass casualties.
Video footage released by Georgia’s security agency shows law enforcement officers using radiation detection equipment to scan a civilian vehicle and handle two small vials, one of which appeared to contain a white, powder-like substance. Officials have not disclosed the enrichment level, origin, or intended recipient of the uranium.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declined to comment when approached regarding the incident.
This case marks the latest in a troubling series of radioactive smuggling attempts in the region. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia has served as a transit route for illicit nuclear materials. In 2019, two individuals were arrested while attempting to sell uranium-238. In 2016, twelve suspects were detained in multiple operations involving both uranium-238 and uranium-235, collectively worth over $200 million.
Officials say this latest case underscores the persistent threat posed by nuclear trafficking networks and the urgent need for international cooperation in safeguarding radioactive materials.
