NUR-SULTAN. Oct 28 (Interfax) - An attempt to sell over 240 kilos of uranium concentrate was stopped in the Kyzylorda region in southern Kazakhstan, the press service for the republic's National Security Committee said.
According to a report released by the press service on Monday, four members of a criminal group who are suspected of illegally handling radioactive substances, radioactive waste and nuclear materials were detained during a special operation on October 23.
According to information provided by specialists from the Nuclear Physics Institute, the seized uranium concentrate is a hazardous radioactive substance whose level of radiation by far exceeds the maximum permissible level and poses a serious risk to the environment and people's health (radiological and toxicological consequences), the report said.
According to the investigators, the radioactive substance was stolen from an enterprise developing a vanadium ore deposit.
Other information is not disclosed in the interests of the pre-trial investigation.