Employees of the Counterintelligence Department and the Special Operations Department detained one Georgian citizen and one foreign citizen in Batumi on charges related to the illegal sale and acquisition of the radioactive chemical element uranium, according to information released by the State Security Service of Georgia.

As noted in the statement, the illegal sale of uranium was planned for 3 million US dollars.

“The State Security Service of Georgia identified a transnational crime and prevented its potential development in various directions. As a result of joint measures conducted by employees of the Counterintelligence Department and the Special Operations Department, one Georgian citizen and one foreign citizen were detained in the city of Batumi for the illegal sale and acquisition of nuclear material, specifically the radioactive chemical element uranium.”

According to the agreement made between the detained individuals, the illegal sale of uranium was planned for 3 million US dollars. Considering the intensity of the alpha and gamma radiation dose and the source of the radiation, this nuclear material, as a component, is suitable for the manufacture of various explosive devices, for carrying out a terrorist attack, or for causing other severe, widespread, and fatal consequences.

An investigation into this criminal act is underway under Article 230, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for a penalty of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 10 years, according to the statement.