Vietnam: 1,500 Diamonds Found in Suitcase

Vietnamese customs agents at Ho Chi Minh City’s airport confiscated about 1,500 loose diamonds that were hidden in the luggage of two men who were entering the country from Hong Kong.

The two, Nguyen Huu Tai, 40, and Tran Binh Tam, 56, were arrested late Friday night, the local press reported today. Custom officials suspect the two are part of gem stones smuggling ring.

Tai and Tam were going through custom’s Green Lane and asked by costumes officers to open their bags. Upon inspection diamonds wrapped in carbon paper and were found inside reading lamps. It is believed the method was used to avoid being detected by airport scanners. A further search found more diamonds hidden in the back of several suitcases.