On October 26, 2025, Georgian authorities arrested three Chinese nationals in the capital city of Tbilisi, accusing them of attempting to illegally purchase two kilograms—about 4.4 pounds—of uranium. According to BBC News, the trio had planned to buy the radioactive substance for $400,000, with the intention of transporting it to China via Russia. The arrests, which unfolded as the suspects negotiated the deal, have cast a renewed spotlight on the persistent and troubling issue of illegal nuclear material trafficking in Georgia, a country that has long grappled with its Soviet-era nuclear legacy.
Georgia, nestled at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, was once home to several nuclear sites during the Soviet era. Since the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, the country has found itself repeatedly at the center of international concern over nuclear and radioactive material security. The most recent arrests underscore the ongoing challenges Georgian authorities face in preventing the illicit trade of such dangerous substances.
Lasha Maghradz, the deputy head of Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG) domestic counter-intelligence agency, detailed the operation in remarks reported by Georgian media and cited by Newsweek. Maghradz explained that members of a China-based criminal group had dispatched individuals to Georgia to seek out uranium. One of the arrested Chinese nationals, he said, "actively began searching for nuclear material across the country." The SSSG was able to identify and detain the suspects as negotiations for the uranium deal were underway. Maghradz remarked, "During the process of negotiating the details of the illegal transaction, as a result of the implementation of the operational information received, the perpetrators were identified and arrested."
All three suspects were apprehended in Tbilisi, but authorities also searched temporary residences in the capital and in Batumi, a city on Georgia’s western Black Sea coast. The SSSG noted that one of the individuals was in Georgia illegally. Under Georgian law, the buying, transporting, or selling of nuclear or radioactive material can result in a prison sentence of up to five years. Seizing such material, however, can lead to a sentence of up to ten years. Local media reported that the three Chinese citizens could face up to a decade behind bars if convicted.
This incident is far from isolated. Georgia has seen a string of similar cases in recent years, each raising alarms about gaps in regional and international nuclear security. Back in July 2025, the SSSG detained a foreign national and a Georgian citizen who were accused of planning a $3 million uranium sale. At the time, authorities warned that the uranium in question could have been used in explosive devices or to carry out terror attacks.
Other notable incidents include a 2023 case in which intelligence officials uncovered a plan to sell radioactive material worth $2 million in the western city of Poti. In March 2019, two Georgian nationals were arrested for attempting to sell uranium-238 for $2.8 million. Even earlier, five citizens were apprehended for trying to sell uranium-238 and uranium-235 for $3 million. The latter isotope, uranium-235, can be enriched for use in nuclear reactors or even weapons, making its illicit trade particularly concerning.
These repeated cases suggest not only a persistent demand for radioactive materials on the black market, but also ongoing vulnerabilities in the region’s regulatory, accounting, and border control systems. Nuclear expert Robert Kelley, in comments published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute earlier this year, emphasized the seriousness of the issue. "The trafficking of nuclear material is something we need to be worried about, because it's illegal and because it suggests that there are holes in the regulatory, accounting and border control systems of several states," Kelley said.
Yet, Kelley also offered a degree of perspective on the scale of the problem. "However, the cases we do see tend to be small and overhyped and generally involve natural, depleted or only slightly enriched uranium, not weapons-grade material." In other words, while the risks are real and the potential consequences severe, most intercepted shipments are not immediately suitable for use in nuclear weapons.
The recent case in Georgia fits this pattern. Authorities have not disclosed the exact enrichment level of the uranium involved, but previous cases in the country have mostly involved uranium-238, the most commonly found isotope, or mixtures that are not readily weapons-grade. Still, the fact that such material is circulating at all, and that criminal groups are willing to pay substantial sums for it, is enough to keep security officials on high alert.
Georgia’s geographic position—bordering Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan—makes it a natural transit point for illicit goods moving between Europe and Asia. Its porous borders and the lingering presence of Soviet-era nuclear infrastructure have made it a focal point for international efforts to shore up nuclear security. Western governments, including the United States, have provided assistance to Georgia in recent years, funding equipment, training, and technical support to help detect and intercept illegal shipments of radioactive material.
Despite these efforts, the recurring nature of trafficking attempts suggests that more work remains to be done. Each new case brings with it a flurry of diplomatic activity and renewed calls for tighter controls—not only in Georgia, but in neighboring countries as well. The international community has a keen interest in preventing nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands, whether those hands belong to would-be terrorists, rogue states, or opportunistic criminals seeking a quick profit.
For Georgia, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The country’s reputation as a responsible steward of nuclear materials is on the line, as is its broader relationship with Western allies. Georgian officials have repeatedly emphasized their commitment to combating nuclear smuggling, but they are also quick to point out that the problem is not theirs alone. The global nature of the black market for radioactive materials means that international cooperation is essential.
As the three Chinese nationals await trial, their case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges facing Georgia and the international community. The country’s history, geography, and the enduring appeal of nuclear materials on the black market have combined to create a complex and ongoing security dilemma. Whether the latest arrests will serve as a meaningful deterrent—or merely another chapter in a long-running saga—remains to be seen. But for now, Georgian authorities can claim at least one more success in their ongoing battle against the illicit trade in nuclear materials.
