ANKARA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police have seized 1,441 grams of californium, a material used for nuclear weapons and in nuclear energy plants, in capital Ankara, daily Hurriyet reported on Monday.

The market value of the seized californium is 5 billion U.S. dollars, but the suspects tried to sell it for 72 million dollars, said the report.

The material was seized in a car in Pursaklar district of Ankara and high-security measures are taken in the scene because Californium is highly dangerous.

Four people have been detained in the operation.

It is the first time that the material is captured in Turkey. Californium is solely produced in the U.S. and Russia.