Three Chinese nationals have been apprehended in Georgia on charges of attempting to illegally acquire 2 kilograms of uranium, according to the country’s State Security Service (SSG). The suspects allegedly planned to pay $400,000 for the nuclear material in Tbilisi, the capital, with intentions to transport it to China via Russia. The operation was uncovered by intelligence agents when one of the individuals attempted to purchase the radioactive substance on the black market. The trio pleaded not guilty in a Tbilisi court and have been detained to prevent their escape. If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison under Georgian law, which prohibits the purchase of nuclear materials. Lasha Maghradze, deputy head of the SSG, revealed that the operation was allegedly coordinated by other members of the group in China. Footage released by the SSG shows armed soldiers detaining the suspects and discovering two glass jars containing a yellow substance in a car boot, later identified as uranium. The specific isotope of uranium involved remains unclear, as does the intended purpose of the material. Georgia, a former Soviet nation, has faced ongoing challenges in securing its nuclear materials since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. This incident follows a similar case in July, where the SSG arrested a Georgian and a Turkish national for attempting to trade $3 million worth of uranium.