Angola Deported 300,000 Diamond Smugglers in 2004

Diamond-rich Angola has this year deported around 300,000 illegal immigrants accused of smuggling diamonds from the main diamond area of Luanda Norte province, the region's governor said today (Wednesday).

Governor Gomes Maiato said the losses from smuggled diamonds runs into the millions of dollars.

Last month Mining Minister Manuel Africano said the country was losing $1 million a day through the illegal trade in diamonds.

That estimate tallies with a report in Angola’s state-run newspaper Jornal de Angola in November which claimed that the country had lost at least $1.4 billion of diamonds over the past four years – or $350 million annually – due to diamond smuggling by foreigners.

Angola launched a controversial crackdown on illegal immigrants said to be involved in illicit diamond dealing in December 2003 and so far almost half a million people, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been deported.

Neighboring governments, the United Nations and human rights groups have all complained about the crackdown, accusing Angola security forces of brutality in implementing the deportations. There were reports that some women and children had been raped and forced to walk long distances without food or water.

Angola is one of Africa's main diamond producers.