Angola Seizes 2,000 Diamonds in War on Traffickers
January 16, 23
(IDEX Online) - Authorities in Angola seized over 2,000 diamonds, described as being "of several carats" last year, together with illegal mining equipment.
They have made repeated efforts to counter diamond trafficking - deporting 250,000 smugglers between 2003 and 2006 - and have faced ongoing allegations over "conflict diamonds".
During 2022 defense and security bodies seized 2,028 diamonds and a haul including 164 nets, 176 shovels, 50 mine rods, 38 rolls of synthetic rope, 14 motor pumps, three buoys, 14 diamond weighing scales, seven diving suits and four sorting lamps, according to the news agency Angpop.
They also confiscated eight diamond testing machines, 17 magnifying glasses, 17 calculating machines, one fake dollar testing machine, two diamond color testing machines, 182 hooks, 41 trap cages, four sieves.
Angola launched Operation Transparency in December 2018, targeting the eastern Lunda Norte province, where there are an estimated 700 illegal mining sites.
Generic pic of rough diamonds