9 Arrested in Uranium Smuggling Ring

Swiss and Turkish authorities have arrested nine people accused of trying to sell enriched uranium in Switzerland, Swiss federal prosecutors said Thursday.

A statement from the prosecutors’ office said a Swiss citizen of Turkish descent was arrested Jan. 22 as he attempted to sell a sample of uranium. He was looking for buyers for additional uranium that he said was stored in Turkey.

Tests showed the sample of uranium was slightly enriched and similar to uranium used in fuel rods in nuclear power plants.

Swiss authorities then contacted Turkish authorities, who arrested eight others in Turkey and secured 2.4 pounds of radioactive material. It is undergoing tests.

Prosecutors said the uranium found in Switzerland posed no danger to the public.