Dutch Police Free Schiphol Diamond Theft Suspect

A man suspected of being connected to the $100 million diamond robbery at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport in February was released Tuesday after investigators failed to find sufficient evidence against him. The arrest, made a few weeks ago, was kept secret by the public prosecutor.

The man, whose name was not disclosed, was arrested after a car accident while he was driving drunk. During a search in his car, police found cash and a diamond measuring instrument, the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported.

Since the police made a public plea on a crime stopping television show a few weeks ago, it published a sketch of one of the men suspected of being involved and subsequently received several tip-offs from TV viewers.

The police, according to news agency ANP, is investigating a group it suspects of being involved. They consider the gang that carried out the theft to be very professional, probably with detailed inside information and perhaps even inside help.

During the brazen robbery an estimated $100 million worth of rough and polished diamonds and jewelry, all en route to Antwerp, were stolen.