SHENZHEN: Numerous Chinese diamond smugglers have been caught trying to sneak the gemstones into the country hidden in their underwear, socks, wallets and even packs of cigarettes, mainland media reports.
Customs officials in Luohu, at the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, in Guangdong province, said they had thwarted more than 100 different diamond smuggling attempts so far this year, Southern Metropolis News reported.
In one case, 133 diamonds weighing a total of 26.31 carats were hidden in pair of underpants, while in another smuggling attempt 14 diamonds weighing a total of 7.38 carats where found in a small front pocket of a man’s underwear.
Other smugglers were also caught trying to conceal the diamonds in their socks and cigarette packs.
In another case, customs officials found 14 diamond certificates hidden under a girdle worn by a young man and then discovered 14 diamonds concealed in his wallet.
The report did not say where the suspects had obtained the diamonds.
