The Delhi Customs on 16th December 2021 seized a consignment of diamonds being sent out of India, having 1,082 carat weight. The officers of Air Cargo Export Commissionerate, Delhi on the basis of suspicion, examined a consignment declared as ‘plastic hot fix’ with a value of ₹ 5000/-.

On examination, a packet containing pouches of cut and polished diamonds was found concealed very ingeniously in the packets of’ plastic hot fix’. The packet of diamonds also had the hot fix pasted on it to avoid detection.The detected diamonds are valued at ₹ 1.56 crore. The said consignment was destined for Hong Kong.  This appears to be a unique case of sending diamonds out of the country through concealment in the parcels through air cargo. This is one of the largest seizures of polished diamond at Air Cargo Export, Delhi in recent times. Further, Investigations are on.

 

Seizure of undeclared diamonds: hidden in consumer-goods export packaging, prevented illicit export and investigation opened. Customs at the Delhi Air Cargo Export Commissionerate seized a parcel declared as low value 'plastic hot fix' that concealed pouches of cut and polished diamonds totaling 1,082 carats, packaged to evade detection and destined for Hong Kong; the shipment was treated as contraband and investigations remain ongoing.