CHISINAU, Moldova, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Three gang members were in custody in Moldova after allegedly trying to sell uranium they had brought into the country illegally, authorities say.
The Russian TV network RT reported Tuesday the suspects were looking for a buyer for nearly 4.4 pounds of the radioactive material. Their asking price was $11.4 million.
It wasn't known where the uranium originated, RT said.
"The group had seven members; three of them have been seized," the prosecutor in the case said. "Some of the suspects have previously been tried in Russia and Romania for similar crimes. Two members of the gang are former Moldovan policeman."
The uranium, which could have been used for military purposes, was being kept in a basement where the level of radiation was about 60 times higher than the acceptable norm, authorities said.
Some of the uranium has been sent to the United States for examination and the rest is being stored in a special container at the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs.
