Russian Sanctions: Four Arrested in Antwerp
March 27, 24
(IDEX Online) - Four men have been arrested in Antwerp for allegedly importing Russian diamonds, which has been against EU rules since 1 January.
The Belgian public prosecutor's office said they launched an investigation after Customs seized diamonds at the end of February.
According to an unconfirmed Times of India report, police seized rough diamonds valued at $24m from a number of locations. It said at least three Indian traders were detained and claimed rough from Russia had been tagged as coming from another country.
The Belgian public prosecutor's office said the Federal Judicial Police (FGP) Antwerp, on behalf of the investigating judge, had carried out six house searches in Antwerp and in nearby Edegem on Wednesday 20 March.
It said four men aged 41, 43, 47 and 64 were arrested and documents and digital media were seized. They were not named. The judicial investigation continues.