Georgia holds five over illegal uranium trade

Georgia is holding five nationals alleged to have tried to sell uranium for $US3 million.

Investigators check radiation level in a factory-produced container which they found in a flat in Tbilisi, Georgia on April 15, 2016. Source: AAP

Georgia's security service says it has detained a group of five Georgian citizens attempting to sell radioactive Uranium-238 and Uranium-235 for $US3 million ($A3.96 million).

"Officers of Georgia's State Security Service detained five citizens of Georgia, who were trying to sell uranium", security service investigator Savle Motiashvili told a briefing.

"Detainees were planning to sell the nuclear material, Uranium-238 and Uranium-235 in amount of 1 kilogram and 665 grams for $3 million," he told a news briefing.