Bolivian police have confiscated two tons of uranium that had been stored at a building in the capital, La Paz, located near the U.S. and Spanish embassies, the EFE news agency said on Wednesday citing Deputy Interior Minister Jorge Perez.
Four Bolivian nationals were arrested while they were transferring the uranium from one vehicle to another. According to preliminary police information, the uranium is valued at approximately $50 million.
Bolivia appears to have been a “transit” country for the consignment; China was allegedly the final destination of the radioactive material. Since Bolivia does not produce uranium, Perez said, authorities assume the uranium originated in either Brazil or Chile.
The commander of the elite police unit that carried out the operation, Col. Eddy Torrez, said the seizure was a result of a six-week investigation.
