The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted yet another case of blood diamond in Surat on Tuesday.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted yet another case of blood diamond in Surat on Tuesday. The officials arrested two people including a Congo national and allegedly recovered rough diamond worth Rs4.24 crore from their possession. This is the fourth case of blood diamond making its way to Surat which is known for its diamond polishing industry.
The revelation is again a big set back for the diamond industry. The two, who have been nabbed, were identified as Rajkot-based Pravin Ajudiya, who is said to be a diamond trader, and Jean Tshinaga, a Congo national.
The DRI reportedly seized rough diamonds weighing 10,510 carats which costs Rs4.24 crore in the international market.
Sources revealed that the diamond, which doesn't have Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), was brought to Surat via Mumbai airport on August 5. The diamond is of Congo origin which was reportedly brought by Congo national Tshinaga. During investigation, DRI officials also came in contact with another Congo citizen identified as Leon Bupasa who was reportedly found innocent and turned as a witness in the case.
According to DRI sources the accused Ajudiya had gone to Mumbai to receive the Congo nationals. They landed in Surat and stayed in a hotel in Varachcha. The accused duo had the diamond in three packets out of which they kept one in a locker while the two were recovered from their possession.
With this latest bust, the DRI, Surat has so far lodged four cases of smuggled diamonds coming out from war-torn African nations.
The first ever case in the country related to blood diamond is said to be the one in which Robai Hussain, a Guyana national and Yusuf Ossley a Lebanese were caught by the DRI with diamonds worth Rs3.85 crore.
The DRI, Surat also arrested one Shabir Ahmed Dholakwala with diamonds worth Rs 9.22 lakh from Ahmedabad airport a couple of years ago. In the third case the DRI officials arrested one Zohra Desai and Prema Desai, both residents of Navsari district with consignment of smuggled diamonds worth Rs10.17 crore.
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