CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldovan police said they had detained seven suspected members of a group that traded firearms and uranium, operating in the separatist Transdnestr region.
“We have documented numerous cases involving shipments of hand grenades, TNT blocks, Kalashnikov assault rifles, rocket-propelled-grenade-launcher charges and containers with radioactive uranium-235,” top Moldovan investigator Vitalie Briceag told reporters Friday.
Briceag said the group sold Kalashnikovs for $2,000 and RPG charges for 200 euros, but he provided no details about the uranium deals or the origins of the nuclear fuel.
In May, a Moldovan court convicted three people of illegal trafficking of uranium-235, which can be used in making nuclear weapons. Intelligence services from the United States, Germany and Ukraine were involved in that case.
(Reuters)
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
