Dubai Police foil $25m pink diamond heist in eight hours

Dubai: Dubai Police have successfully thwarted the theft of an exceptionally rare pink diamond worth $25 million, foiling a gang’s elaborate attempt to smuggle it out of the country.

Police said operation ‘Pink Diamond’ led to the arrest of three suspects who had spent over a year plotting the crime. The diamond, certified by a leading gemological institute, has a unique purity rating and is considered virtually irreplaceable, with only a 0.01% chance of finding another of its kind.

Investigations revealed the suspects identified the diamond’s owner, a jeweller, and tricked him into believing that a wealthy buyer was interested.

To gain credibility, they rented luxury cars, booked meetings in upscale hotels, and even hired a renowned diamond expert to verify the gem. Convinced by their act, the merchant eventually agreed to bring the diamond out of his secure shop.

The gang then lured him to a villa under the pretext of meeting the “buyer.” Once the diamond was shown, they seized it and fled.

Within minutes of receiving the theft report, Dubai Police formed a specialised task force. Using advanced tracking technology, the CID identified and located the three Asian suspects, who had split up after the heist.

Raids were carried out simultaneously at multiple locations, leading to their arrest and the recovery of the diamond, which was found hidden in a refrigerator bound for an Asian country.

The pink diamond is classified as Fancy Intense, weighing 21.25 carats, with exceptional clarity, symmetry and polish — all graded “Excellent.”

The pink diamond’s owner described Dubai Police’s swift response as “astonishing,” saying their speed and professionalism gave him immediate confidence the case would be resolved.

After calling 999, he said 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,” he said.

Operating in Dubai since 2005, he admitted he was caught off guard by the scheme and urged industry peers to strictly follow official safety guidelines.

“Dubai has become a safe global hub for diamond trade. It’s important we uphold the standards that make that possible,” he added.