INGENIOUS THIEVES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 89, 5 December 1931, Page 6

INGENIOUS THIEVES

STOLEN DIAMONDS ARE SW ALLOWED BY SMUGGLERS. Swallowing diamonds is the latest device adopted by the gem smugglers, whose ingenious stratagems have enabled them to make large hauls from South African mines, says the Daily Mail. For some time past illicit diamond buyers have been doing a brisk trade, and Wrkers in the State diggings in Namaqualand were particular ly suspect. Miles of wire feneing and numerous patrols could not stop the leakage. The diggers wear a special uniform without pockets, and every man was searched when entering and leaving the mines. Aeroplanes scoured the dry North-West, motor-cars chased a suspected merchant, but nothing was found; and the smuggling continued. As a last resource every suspected man was X-rayed, and the secret came out. The smugglers had become human ostriches. Without apparent physical injury they had lined themselves with glittering jewels — like a walking Aladdin's cave. Two smugglers have been captured. One had diamonds inside him valued at £4000, and the other jewels worth £6000. The latter, between leaving the mine and being captured, had walked to his home — a month's journey! The police are being congratulated on solving the problem, and the doctors have finished their work. The jewels were removed by surgical means.