Posted on 12/29/2010 4:39:23 PM PST by Pan_Yan
Two Israelis have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling rough diamonds from Zimbabwe into Israel, news outlets report.
Last week, customs officials at Ben-Gurion International Airport reportedly stopped one man for a random check as he was leaving the airport through the "nothing to declare" lane and found a number of rough diamonds in his clothing pockets.
When questioned, the man reportedly told authorities that he was employed in Zimbabwe as a water consultant and had been instructed to bring the diamonds – which do not carry Kimberley Process certification – to Israel by a diamond trader.
When the diamond trader was called in for questioning, he reportedly confirmed the first man's version of events, as well as the diamonds' value, and said that he had acquired the stones from a diamond trader from Lebanon.
The first man is not involved in the diamond trade and is not a member of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), the Israel Tax Authority has confirmed.
IDE President Avi Paz issued statements stressing that illegal diamond trading was not tolerated and that if the diamond trader were found to be involved in illicit diamond trade he would be expelled from the IDE.
the man reportedly told authorities that he was employed in Zimbabwe as a water consultantAt least he had a convincing cover story. ;')
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