Kazakhstan foils radioactive uranium sale attempt, three arrested

Three men in Kazakhstan have been arrested for attempting to sell radioactive uranium, a local outlet reports.

Two residents of Aktobe and their accomplice from Shymkent were detained during a special operation conducted by the National Security Committee (KNB).

According to the case materials, an Uzbek citizen illegally acquired nearly one kilogram of depleted uranium and offered to sell it through an acquaintance in Shymkent. The acquaintance handed the substance to the Aktobe residents, who transported it in the trunk of a Chevrolet Tracker.

The operation was monitored by the security service, which sent a decoy buyer carrying fake money to meet the suspects. The meeting took place in a forested area outside the city, where all three men were arrested. An expert examination confirmed that the seized material was indeed depleted uranium.

The court found the defendants guilty. The two Aktobe residents were sentenced to two years in prison each, while their accomplice from Shymkent received a two-and-a-half-year sentence, having a prior criminal record. The court ordered that the uranium be destroyed.

By Khagan Isayev