Customs officials at Kolhapur Airport, Western India, arrested a passenger attempting to smuggle polished diamonds valued at approximately $480,000.
The passenger, planning to board a Lion Air flight to Bangkok, was found carrying 32 packets of diamonds, weighing a total of 1,350.4 carats. This event draws attention to the need for strict measures in the monitoring and transportation of precious stones, reflecting on broader concerns within the jewellery industry regarding supply chain security.
Incident Details
Identified in a report by the Times of India as Prabhuprakash Lobo, the individual had attempted to pass through the airport’s “nothing to declare” area before being detained by the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs. Following a tipoff, Lobo was subjected to a physical examination, leading to the discovery of the diamonds. He reportedly confessed to officials that he had been promised $180 and a return ticket to Thailand for transporting the diamonds.
The discovery of smuggled diamonds at Kolhapur Airport serves as a reminder of the challenges facing the jewellery industry in terms of supply chain security. It emphasizes the need for jewellers, alongside regulatory and law enforcement agencies, to reinforce measures against the illegal trade of precious stones.
