diamond-dealing industry
20 September 2006
On Wednesday, 20 September 2006, members of the police's Precious Metals and
Diamonds Unit terminated "Operation 2081" after almost three years of intensive
undercover investigations into illegal diamond dealings. Ten suspects, some of
them well known in the diamond industry, were arrested as detectives swung into
action in a co-ordinated operation covering three provinces shortly after 06h00
this morning.
Operation 2081 was initiated in the Northern Cape in May 2004 and undercover
police agents were able to infiltrate the illicit diamond industry and gather
enough evidence to convince both the SAPS and the prosecuting authorities that
arrests were justified.
Today eight suspects were arrested in the Northern Cape (in Kimberley and
Port Nolloth) and two in Cape Town in the Western Cape. Investigations in a
third province are continuing and more arrests are likely.
The suspects will face charges relating to illegally dealing in diamonds
and/ or the illegal possession of diamonds and all are expected to appear in
court before Friday, 22 September 2006.
SAPS detectives have spent the morning fine-combing premises for evidence of
illegal transactions and a number of exhibits (including diamonds,
documentation and cash) have already been seized.
The Divisional Commissioner of the South African Police Service's Detective
Service, Commissioner Johan de Beer, said that the operation was a classic
example of thorough investigative techniques teamed with strategic agent
infiltration.
"It is rewarding for our detectives, after years of dedication, to terminate
a project successfully knowing that they have given their all to rounding up
alleged criminals who have committed offences out of pure greed," said
Commissioner De Beer from his office at SAPS headquarters in Pretoria.
Issued by: South African Police Service
20 September 2006
Source: South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za)
