Five people have been arrested in the former Soviet republic of Georgia for trying to sell more than a kilogram of uranium.

State Security Committee investigator Savle Motiashvili told a briefing Thursday that the 1.665 kilograms consisted mostly of U-238, the isotope most commonly found in nature, and only about 0.2 percent of it was U-235, which can be used in nuclear weapons and reactors.

The arrests were made in Kobuleti, he said.

The suspects aimed to sell the uranium for $3 million, but no potential buyer was specified. Although U-238 itself is not fissile, it can be used as a component in nuclear weapons.

It was the second such arrest this month. Georgia announced April 18 that six people were arrested for trying to sell uranium.