CHISINAU, Moldova – Moldovan police say they have detained seven people on suspicion they smuggled uranium and mercury from Russia to be used in a dirty bomb.
Police chief Ion Bodrug said house searches were carried out last week in the capital and two other towns and police confiscated 200 grams (7 ounces) of uranium-238 mixed with uranium-235 and a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of mercury. The material, smuggled by train, has a black-market value of 1.6 million euros ($2 million).
Those arrested belong to a criminal gang and have admitted their guilt, Bodrug said Tuesday.
Police are cooperating with Ukrainian and Russian police to identify other gang members.
Uranium-238 can be enriched into the fissile material of nuclear warheads or converted into plutonium, also used to arm nuclear missiles.
Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.