Alleged Diamond Smuggling Ring Busted in Israel

Israeli tax authorities claim they have uncovered a network of diamond smugglers operating in Israel, Belgium and Russia. The investigation that led to the discovery started with a suspected tax evasion case of a woman who operated a small kindergarten. The names of the suspects are being concealed at the request of the police, pending further investigations.

During the kindergarten inquiry, investigators found that the owner’s husband had traveled abroad 245 times in the past eight years, on trips that usually lasted just two days.

During a search of the couple’s house, while the husband was out of the country, investigators found documents containing tables with different names and codes, as well as different calculations.

Upon the man’s return, he was arrested at the airport. He claimed that he is a gambler and that he often gambles in casinos abroad.

According to reports from the Israeli economic news site TheMarker.com, decoding the documents led to the arrest of 15 men and women, all suspected of being involved in a ring of diamond smugglers operating mainly in Israel, Belgium and Russia.

The suspects are relatives who have allegedly carried out more than 500 such diamond operations and paid $600 per trip plus travel expenses. Among the suspects are hi-tech executives and an education advisor. The report adds that the diamonds were hidden inside ”private” body parts.

Over the weekend, Israeli customs officials arrested a man traveling from Russia with more than $200,000 worth of rough diamonds. It is not known at this time if the two cases are related.