2 Persons held for Smuggling Conflict Diamonds.

Two citizens of Guena and Lebnon were held by a Surat and Ahmedabad team in a joint operation against smuggling of diamonds when diamonds worth Rs 3.85 crore were seized from Mahidharpura, diamond centre of Surat on September 18, 2008.

Both the persons are holding an office in Mahidharpura area of Surat on rental basis. They import diamonds in India via Dubai without obtaining the compulsory Kimberley Process Certificate.

One top officer in team of DRI, Additional Director General V. Ramu, Dy. Director- Prashant Kumar with Surat DRI, Asstt. Director S.R. Karnikand raided Arpan complex of Mahidharpura area to catch them selling 'conflict diamonds'. DRI team has caught and detained them for further investigations. Both the persons could not explain satisfactorily about the lack of essential import documentation for their diamonds.

Both the persons came to Surat on 14 September, 08 from Mumbai airport and didn't declare about the diamonds to airport authorities also.A sum of Rs. 98,000 in Indian currency was also recovered from the duo for which also they couldn't reply satisfactorily .

Visas of both the accused Yusuf Oselia and Robai Jussian had also expired on 18 September, 08. They didn't apply for extension of the same.

Both the accused have been sent to custody for further investigation by DRI.

This is the most prominent case of DRI operation in the history of Conflict Diamonds in India, sources said.