The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Rajasthan has busted an Atomic smuggling racket, in a joint operation with the Intelligence Bureau, arresting six people.

According to an Indian Express report, an anonymous tip-off in January this year, helped the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) recover about 31 tonnes of Beryl, which is an atomic mineral ore of Beryllium. The anonymous letter had informed about the illegal export of Beryl to China, following which they swung into action, resulting in the recovery of the atomic mineral in end-January.

“An FIR under Section 14/24 of Atomic Energy Act, 1962 was registered by the Superintendent of Police, ATS, Rajasthan Police, Jaipur on the written complaint of Regional Director, Western Region, AMD, Jaipur. Six persons were caught,” the report said, quoting a government official involved in the exercise.

Meanwhile, chargesheets against the arrested persons were filed in the court of the District Judge in Jaipur on February 27, the report said.

China is reportedly among a handful of countries like the US, Canada, Russia and Brazil, that extracts beryllium from the mineral ore for usage in atomic power plants, space technology and scanning equipment.