Smuggler swallows $2.25 million of diamonds

2.8 k views | Posted November 19, 2012 | By Dean Millard • Staff Journalist

South African police have arrested a man they claim swallowed 220 polished diamonds in an attempt to smuggle them on a flight to Dubai.

A 25-year-old Lebanese man was detained by South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks, after it was tipped off about the man’s behaviour. The suspect was kept in custody and fed laxatives until police were able to “recover” the haul of diamonds, valued at approximately $2.25 million.

Speaking to the Agence France Presse, Hawks spokesman Paul Ramaloko said the man was arrested before he went through the security checkpoint.

"The man was ready to board the flight and had the diamonds on his person. Our officers were tipped off about his activities and detained him at the airport.

“The man was subjected to a thorough search and the diamonds were recovered. We do not know whether he had swallowed the diamonds before he came to the airport or during arrest,” Ramaloko said.

It is the second arrest this year at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg of a man attempting to smuggle diamonds. A 27-year-old man was arrested in March in possession of approximately $1.7 million of diamonds. At this stage police cannot confirm whether the two incidents are linked.

Jeweller reported in September about a man who was arrested for attempting to steal a diamond at a Sri Lankan jewellery fair by swallowing it. However, it was later revealed that the man had swallowed a diamond simulant, which authorities believe was staged to distract attention from an accomplice who was able to escape with the natural diamond.

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