Dubai police have successfully recovered an exceptionally rare pink diamond valued at $25 million and arrested three individuals in connection with its theft, authorities announced Monday. The swift operation, dubbed “Operation Pink Diamond,” saw law enforcement apprehend the suspects within eight hours of the crime, before they could smuggle the gem out of the country.
According to a statement from the Government of Dubai Media Office, the thieves had meticulously planned the heist for over a year. They posed as wealthy individuals, renting luxury cars and arranging meetings at high-end hotels to gain the trust of a diamond trader who had brought the stone to Dubai from Europe. Their elaborate ruse included hiring a “diamond expert” to authenticate the gem, further convincing the merchant of their legitimacy. The suspects then lured the trader to a private villa under the pretext of a final viewing, where they seized the diamond and fled.
The heist was foiled after the distressed merchant immediately reported the theft to the police. A specialized task force was dispatched, utilizing advanced tracking technology and artificial intelligence to identify and locate the three suspects, who had split up to different locations. The stolen diamond, weighing over 21 carats and noted for its unique purity, was found hidden in a small refrigerator intended for an Asian destination. The rapid response and recovery of the stone have been praised by the diamond’s owner, who described the police’s actions as “astonishing.”