Arrested Indian Diamond Smugglers Will Receive Legal Aid

21 Indians arrested in Shenzen, China last week in connection to a diamond smuggling ring will receive legal assistance from the Indian Government, The Economic Times reported Thursday.

The smuggling ring allegedly sourced their diamonds from Hong Kong, then hired Indians to smuggle them into Shenzhen before distributing them to factories, which then sold them as legal goods. Arrests were made Friday following a two-month long investigation by Custom officials in Shenzhen.

Officials from the Indian embassy in Beijing and the Indian consulate in Shenzhen have met with the Indians suspects individually to inquire about the circumstances leading up to their detention, the paper reported.

India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that the 21 Indians are being "apparently well looked after." Rao refused to go into the details of the case. The paper also reported that New Delhi is satisfied with the Chinese government for allowing consular access to the detained individuals.