Diamond Smuggling Ring Busted in Antwerp

A diamond smuggling network, allegedly operating out of a gem-trading business, has reportedly been discovered by the Antwerp police. The ring is suspected of having made hundreds of smuggling trips since 2004.

According to a report in De Tijd today, a number of arrests have been made and police obtained confessions from couriers, who hid the goods on their body as well as from two of the ring's organizers. Police is now trying to finding out who were the ring’s customers.

This is not the first smuggling case in Antwerp. In December 2004, eight Antwerp diamond dealers were sentenced to up to six years in prison after being convicted on charges of smuggling rough diamonds into Belgium.

In October 2005, police seized goods from Monstrey Worldwide Services and closed their offices in an ongoing case that is still sending ripples through the diamond center.