Authorities in Georgia detain three Chinese nationals accused of trying to buy two kilograms of uranium for $400,000 and smuggle it to China via Russia.
Georgia’s State Security Service announced the arrest of three Chinese nationals in the capital, Tbilisi, for allegedly attempting to illegally purchase nuclear material, in what authorities described as a major security breach involving uranium.
The arrests were made following an undercover operation by Georgia’s Internal Security Service, Inter-Press news agency reported on Saturday October 25,2025. The suspects were allegedly negotiating to buy two kilograms of uranium for $400,000, with plans to transport the material to China through Russia.
Officials said the uranium was confirmed to be “nuclear material,” though no further details were provided about its grade or potential use. Authorities have not disclosed the motive behind the planned purchase or whether it was linked to any larger network.
“The three detainees face charges that could carry a prison sentence of up to ten years,” the Deputy Head of Georgia’s State Security Service was quoted as saying.
The case has reignited concerns about the lingering threat posed by unsecured nuclear materials across the former Soviet Union. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Georgia inherited several sites that stored radioactive substances, prompting years of international efforts to secure and monitor them.
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Despite those measures, incidents involving the trafficking of nuclear or radioactive materials have continued to surface periodically. Over the past two decades, Georgia has reported multiple attempts to smuggle uranium and other dangerous substances, often intercepted during sting operations by its security agencies.
In a similar case earlier this year, authorities detained one Georgian and one Turkish national for the illegal purchase and possession of radioactive substances that officials warned could have been used to build a deadly bomb.
Georgia’s government said the latest arrests underline the ongoing need for vigilance in preventing the illegal trade of nuclear materials and protecting regional security.
The detained Chinese nationals remain in custody in Tbilisi as the investigation continues. Authorities have not released their names pending formal charges.
International observers say the case highlights both the persistent black-market demand for radioactive materials and the challenges Post-Soviet states face in preventing their proliferation.
Africa Daily News, New York
