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21 February 2007
BRUSSELS — The Antwerp police have uncovered a large diamond-smuggling network.
There is evidence that the network conducted hundreds of trips to smuggle the gems since 2004, De Tijd writes.
The network was based around a shop in Antwerp that posed as an ordinary gem dealer but in reality controlled continuous illegal diamond imports. The carriers had to hide the gems in their bodies.
The persons arrested will appear in court next month.
Both the carriers and two of the organisers have confessed their involvement in the smuggling. However, the police now want to come after the retailers that employed the services of the smugglers. The exact value of the total goods smuggled is not yet known.
[Copyright Expatica News 2007]
Subject: Belgian news