Partner Article

Fake diamond shocks ‘smuggler’

A £2.2 million diamond confiscated by customs officers turned out to be a worthless fake - much to the surprise of the ‘smuggler’.

The huge rock was believed to be an illegally mined ‘blood diamond’ from Angola when it was intercepted at Frankfurt Airport in Germany. In fact, gems experts discovered it was just a common crystal worth at most £18 for its decorative value.

“Everyone was surprised. Especially the person who had been carrying it. He thought it was worth millions but has been released because, despite what he thought, he wasn’t actually doing anything illegal,” said customs officer Juergen Bland.

Prosecutor Doris Moeller-Scheu, who told the Angolan man he was free, said: “Instead of losing his freedom he’s lost a fortune - it’s like they say - crime doesn’t pay.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .