Image: Dubai Media Office
Dubai Police have successfully thwarted the theft of a rare pink diamond worth $25m in a meticulously executed operation named ‘Operation Pink Diamond’, recovering the gem before it could be smuggled out of the country.
The investigation revealed that the gang had been plotting the heist for over a year, targeting a diamond certified by a leading gemological institute with a unique purity rating — so rare that there is only a 0.01 per cent chance of finding another like it.
The criminal scheme
The suspects, all of Asian nationality, devised a sophisticated plan to deceive the diamond’s owner, a jeweller, by posing as wealthy buyers interested in purchasing the gem.
They rented luxury cars, held meetings at upscale hotels, and even hired a renowned diamond expert to authenticate the stone, creating the illusion of credibility and legitimacy.
Their ultimate goal was to persuade the merchant to move the diamond out of his secure shop. Once the diamond was brought to a villa under the pretext of meeting the ‘buyer’, the gang attempted to seize it.
Police foil the plot
Dubai Police CID teams leveraged advanced technology to track and identify the three suspects, who initially lived together but dispersed to different locations after the heist.
A specialised task force raided their locations simultaneously, apprehending the suspects and recovering the diamond before it could leave Dubai, hidden in a small refrigerator destined for an Asian country.
The recovered pink diamond is classified as ‘Fancy Intense’, weighing 21.25 carats, with exceptional clarity, symmetry, and polish, rated excellent. Its extraordinary value and rarity made it a prime target, prompting the gang’s elaborate year-long planning.
Merchant praises police response
The diamond’s owner expressed admiration for the Dubai Police’s swift and professional action. He recounted calling 999 immediately after the theft, and noted:
“Multiple patrols arrived within minutes, began the investigation, and offered constant reassurance.
To my surprise, the very next morning, they called to say the suspects had been arrested and the diamond recovered.”
Operating in Dubai since 2005, the merchant admitted being caught off guard by the scheme, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the emirate’s safety guidelines for the diamond trade:
“Dubai has become a safe global centre for diamond trade. It’s important we uphold the standards that make that possible.”
‘Operation Pink Diamond’ not only recovered one of the world’s rarest gemstones but also reinforced Dubai’s reputation as a secure hub for high-value commodities.
The operation highlights the city’s law enforcement capabilities and the proactive measures it takes to protect investors and merchants in the luxury trade sector.
