Zimbabwe: 17 Police Officers Arrested for Illegal Diamond Trading

Seventeen Zimbabwean police officers have been arrested Saturday for allegedly trading rough diamonds illegally in an area they were stationed to protect from illicit diamond mining.  

The arrests were made in Chiadzwa, a site that has been explored and then taken into government control after diamonds were found at it. A diamond rush caused President Robert Mugabe to order the area sealed off.

Since that time, reports of police being involved in mining, selling and smuggling goods have been surfacing.

According to a police spokesman, three of the officers were in possession of 30 diamonds when arrested, the rest had cash in sums ranging from Z$144,000 and Z$45.6 million (US$4.80 - $1,520).

All 17 will be expelled from the police force for their alleged activities.

“It is strongly suspected that the money had been acquired corruptly through soliciting, accepting, obtaining or agreeing to accept a gift or consideration for themselves for doing or not doing or having done or not done any act in relation to their principal's affairs or business, Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said following the arrests.

They were charged under the Police Act, and ten were already found guilty. Next, they will be facing criminal charges in court.