In a raid codenamed ‘Pink Diamond’, Dubai Police were able to prevent the theft of a very rare pink diamond valued at $25 million and block the criminals’ effort to smuggle it out of the country.
Dubai Police confirmed that Operation Pink Diamond resulted in the gang’s arrest, who for more than a year had conspired to steal the rare diamond, certified by a major gemological institution and with a singular purity rating, where there is only a 0.01% possibility of discovering another such gem.
The criminals’ plan was to discover the owner of the diamond (a jeweller) and to trick him into the belief that there was a potential buyer, a rich customer, interested in buying it. To build credibility, the suspects presented themselves as rich people by hiring expensive vehicles and setting up meetings at expensive hotels, ultimately convincing the merchant to relocate the diamond outside his secure store, allowing them to steal it.
Foiled Plan
Using sophisticated technologies, Dubai Police CID units identified the three suspects who were of Asian nationality, traced their whereabouts, and apprehended them—while the diamond was recovered safely prior to it being smuggled outside of the nation in a small refrigerator destined for an Asian destination.
Rare Gem
The pink diamond is a Fancy Intense weighing 21.25 carats. It has outstanding clarity, symmetry, and polish with an Excellent grade. Its unparalleled value and rarity positioned it as the most valuable target, with the gang’s sophisticated attempts for a long time.
How the Plot Unfolded?
Dubai Police disclosed that the trader had brought the diamond from a European nation to sell in Dubai. The gang had kept a close eye on its arrival and planned to steal it by impersonating wealthy brokers acting for a prospective buyer.
The gang organized several appointments with the merchant, hired luxury vehicles, and picked him up at expensive hotels in order to assure him of their credibility. They even employed a well-known expert in diamonds to verify the gem, further convincing the merchant of their genuineness.
Finally, the gang tricked the merchant into attending a villa on the pretext of taking him to meet the ‘buyer’. After the diamond was produced, they stole it and escaped.
Speedy Police Action
The moment the merchant called to report the theft, a specialized task force was created to track down and arrest the three suspects, who had originally shared an accommodation but had split up after the robbery and were in different places. Dubai Police squads raided the two locations in tandem, arrested the suspects, and seized the diamond before it could be smuggled out of the country.
Owner of the pink diamond called Dubai Police’s response “astonishing” and said that their professionalism and speed immediately instilled confidence in him that the case would be cracked.
He called 999 and claimed that several patrols arrived within minutes, started the investigation, and provided continuous reassurance.
“To my surprise, the next morning they rang to inform me that the suspects were arrested and the diamond had been recovered,” he said.
Working in Dubai from 2005, the dealer confessed to having been surprised by the scam and called for others within the industry to adhere to official safety practices established by the emirate.
He further stated: “Dubai has become a secure world center for diamond trade. It’s crucial we maintain the standards that make that achievable.”
