Lebanese Diamond Smugglers Caught in Surat

Two Lebanese nationals were arrested in Surat last Saturday when they were trying to sell a consignment of rough diamonds that did not have the required Kimberley Process certificates or other legal documents.

The two men, Yusuf Oselli and Robar Hussain, were found to be in possession of 3,600 carats of rough diamonds estimated to be worth Rs 38.5 million ($837,667 dollars), the media reported.

They claimed they had brought the rough from Zimbabwe, and flew into India via Dubai, thereby successfully evading detection by customs officials. Though one of the two was on his first trip, the other is believed to have made four trips to Surat in earlier months.

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is co-operating closely with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), a government investigative agency that is probing the case.

“We are keen to plug any loopholes and ensure that rough diamonds enter the country only through legal channels with proper KP certification,” Sanjay Kothari, chairman of the GJEPC said. “We are in touch with the authorities and are assisting in their investigation, including helping them assess the value and origin of the diamonds.”