Georgia Arrests Uranium-Sellers
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.
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.
