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Diamonds worth millions of dollars seized in CMB

03 May 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Thousands of packets of diamonds, gold rings, bracelets and gold chains worth more than millions of dollars shipped to Colombo from Greece hidden inside electrical equipment by a Sri Lankan couple were seized by the Colombo Customs yesterday after they were informed by the Interpol through the CID.

The Sri Lankan couple involved in this massive robbery was also arrested in Colombo by the CID.

It was believed to be one of the largest stocks of diamonds to be detected in Sri Lanka.
“There were thousands of packets containing diamonds inside 41 baggages shipped by the Sri Lankan couple,” Customs Director Ranjan Kanakasabay said.

The couple had been working in Greece for many years and the husband had been working at a major jewellery store in Athens for several years.

The jewellery store owners had given the main suspect hundreds of boxes with jewellery and diamonds to be looked after as he was a senior employee of the store.

The robbery had come to light last month when the Sri Lankan couple had gone missing for about a week and the jewellery had disappeared. Thereafter, the management of the jewellery store had informed the Athens police about the robbery.

The CID was then informed through the Greece Interpol branch about the runaway couple. The couple had also shipped furniture, electronic equipment and many other items in a container inside which the jewellery and the diamonds had been hidden.

The CID had taken a court order asking the Customs to hand over the seized diamonds and jewellery as it has a direct Interpol connection to the investigations.

The detection was made by the Customs Prevention Unit under the direction of Customs Director Ranjan Kanakasabay.

Mr. Kanakasabay told Daily Mirror that the Customs used an American Enterscopy scanner for the first time to examine the baggage without removing the locks or cutting the bags. (Supun Dias)

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Diamonds worth millions of dollars seized in CMB

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