Smuggling Diamonds: Airport Tricks And Tips

Diamond smuggling is a serious issue, with violent armed groups in diamond-rich areas and strongmen in western parts of the Central African Republic (CAR) profiting from diamonds that reach international markets. While efforts have been made to establish legitimate supply chains, smugglers and traders continue to thrive in the parallel black market. In this context, it is important to understand how diamonds might be smuggled through airports. While some individuals have attempted to swallow diamonds, this method has been unsuccessful, with smugglers requiring surgery or being forced to take laxatives to retrieve the diamonds. Others have tried to hide diamonds in plastic bags inside luggage or on their person, but with the presence of x-ray scanners and metal detectors at airports, this method is also risky.

Diamonds show up on X-rays

Diamonds and other pieces of jewellery can be detected by X-ray machines at airport security. To avoid detection, you could try to obscure the items by wrapping them in a way that makes them harder to identify on the X-ray. For example, you could wrap a ring in saran wrap and place it inside a glass container. This method might work if the X-ray operator cannot identify what is in the scan and has to manually inspect the item.

However, it is worth noting that this method may not always be successful, as security staff may still unwrap and manually inspect items even if they cannot identify them on the X-ray. If you are concerned about your diamonds or jewellery being detected, it might be best to leave them at home or declare them to airport security upon arrival.

Additionally, it is important to remember that attempting to smuggle diamonds or other items through airport security is illegal and can result in serious consequences. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as encouragement or advice to engage in any illegal activity.

Finally, while diamonds may be detectable by X-ray machines, it is worth noting that the metal in jewellery is usually not enough to set off metal detectors. As long as your jewellery is made from commonly used metals, you can wear it through the metal detector without raising alarms.

Hiding spots: in the mouth, in luggage, or swallowed

Hiding spots are key when it comes to smuggling diamonds through an airport. Here are some suggestions for places to hide them on your person: in your mouth, in your luggage, or even swallowed.

Firstly, the mouth can be a good hiding spot, as demonstrated by two Sri Lankan men who managed to smuggle 436.8 grams of gold by sticking it in their mouths, below their tongues. They mumbled to each other to avoid having to open their mouths, but were eventually caught when authorities noticed and asked them to open wide. If you choose this method, be sure to keep your mouth closed and avoid drawing attention to yourself by speaking or laughing.

Another option is to hide diamonds in your luggage. This can be risky, as luggage is often vulnerable to theft and it can be easy for people to access your belongings without you realizing it. If you do choose to hide diamonds in your luggage, consider hiding them in a secret compartment or a false bottom created inside the bag. You could also try hiding them in an unexpected place, such as inside a pair of sandals designed to store valuables.

Finally, if you are desperate, you could try swallowing the diamonds. This method has been attempted before, with a Chinese woman making the news for smuggling a diamond in her intestine. However, this method is extremely dangerous and could lead to serious health complications. It is not recommended.

Remember, smuggling is illegal and can result in serious consequences if you are caught. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be used for criminal activities.

The risk of metal detectors

Metal detectors are designed to detect metallic objects by creating an electromagnetic field that penetrates the ground and alerts the user when it encounters a metallic object. However, diamonds are excellent insulators with low electrical conductivity and do not have significant magnetic properties, which means they do not interact with electromagnetic fields and can go undetected by metal detectors.

Gold prospecting metal detectors can be used to find diamonds and gemstones, but they are not designed for this purpose and may not be very effective. These detectors can lead you to indicator minerals, which prospectors can follow to find diamonds.

When it comes to smuggling diamonds through an airport, metal detectors are not likely to pose a significant risk. Metal detectors at airports are designed to detect larger metallic objects, and the type of metal used in jewellery, such as rings, is typically not enough to set off the detector. As long as the diamonds are not in a metal casing or container, they are unlikely to be detected by metal detectors.

However, it is important to note that other security measures at airports, such as X-ray machines, may detect diamonds. In addition, some metal detectors have additional settings or specialised coils that can improve their ability to find non-metallic objects, so it is not impossible for diamonds to be detected by metal detectors in certain situations.

Supply chains and black markets

Diamond smuggling often involves a range of individuals, from miners and traders to middlemen and buyers. These individuals form networks that operate across borders, taking advantage of areas with lax regulations or corruption to facilitate their illegal activities. In some cases, violent armed groups or strongmen with influence in diamond-rich regions may control mining sites and profit from the illicit diamond trade, perpetuating instability and conflict.

To navigate through airports, diamond smugglers employ various tactics to evade detection. Some common methods include:

• Hiding diamonds in body cavities or ingesting them, which carries significant health risks.
• Concealing diamonds in personal belongings or luggage, such as wrapping them in plastic bags or glass containers.
• Mixing diamonds with other parcels to reduce the risk of detection and increase the carat size of the parcel for sale.
• Using social media to connect with potential buyers and build networks with other smugglers and traders.

It is important to note that diamond smuggling is a serious criminal offence and can have severe legal consequences, including lengthy jail sentences. Additionally, the illegal diamond trade often fuels conflict, human rights abuses, and instability in diamond-producing regions.

To address these issues, international organisations like the Kimberley Process work with governments and diamond companies to establish legitimate supply chains and certify the origin of diamonds. However, despite these efforts, diamond smuggling persists, highlighting the complexity and challenges of eradicating the illicit diamond trade.

Diamond smuggling in the Central African Republic

To successfully smuggle diamonds out of CAR, one must first obtain the diamonds. This can be done by purchasing them from dealers or miners in CAR, who may be part of armed groups or militias. Next, one must find a way to transport the diamonds out of the country without detection. This could involve hiding the diamonds in luggage or on your person when passing through airport security, or using land borders to transport diamonds into neighbouring countries, such as Cameroon, as reported by a diagnostic study.

When transporting diamonds through the airport, it is important to consider the type of metal used in the jewellery, as some metals may trigger metal detectors. However, in most cases, the metal in jewellery will not set off the detector, as demonstrated by a traveller who walked through a metal detector at the airport with their engagement ring on their hand without setting it off. Diamonds can be hidden in carry-on luggage or wrapped in a way that obscures their shape on X-rays, as in the case of a traveller who wrapped their grandmother's rings in Saran Wrap to prevent them from jostling in their luggage, which successfully hid the items' identity from X-ray machines.

Additionally, it is important to be aware of the risks involved in diamond smuggling, as it is illegal and can result in serious consequences if caught. Smuggling contributes to human rights abuses and other illegal and unethical practices in the diamond supply chain, such as tax abuse. Furthermore, investigating agencies are actively monitoring unusual rough diamond exports, and seizures of smuggled diamonds are occurring, as seen in the recent seizure of rough diamonds in Surat, India, which revealed diamond smuggling tactics.

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