Dubai Police foiled a $25 million pink diamond heist within eight hours, arresting suspects before they fled.
DUBAI: In a daring operation named ‘Pink Diamond’, Dubai Police successfully prevented the theft of a rare 21.25-carat pink diamond, valued at $25 million, within just eight hours of the crime being reported. The rare gemstone was recovered before it could be smuggled out of the country.
The pink diamond theft was orchestrated by a gang of three suspects of Asian nationality, who had been plotting the elaborate heist for over a year. Dubai Police revealed that the criminals carefully studied their target, a jeweller based in Dubai, and posed as wealthy intermediaries looking to broker a high-value sale.
To gain the merchant’s trust, they rented luxury cars, organised meetings in upscale hotels, and even hired a diamond expert to authenticate the gem. Their scheme eventually convinced the merchant to bring the gem out of his secure premises for a supposed final meeting at a villa, where the theft took place.
Acting swiftly, Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Department used advanced surveillance and tracking tools to locate the suspects—who had split up to avoid detection. Within eight hours of the report, simultaneous raids were carried out across multiple locations, resulting in all three arrests and the recovery of the diamond, which had been hidden inside a small refrigerator set to be smuggled to an Asian destination.
The pink diamond theft targeted a gem classified as Fancy Intense, known for its exceptional clarity, polish, and symmetry—traits which make it extremely valuable. With only a 0.01% likelihood of finding a similar stone, the diamond is considered one of the rarest in the world.
The merchant praised the swift response of the Dubai Police, noting their professionalism and immediate reassurance. “To my surprise, the very next morning, they called to say the suspects had been arrested and the diamond recovered,” he said. He urged fellow jewellers to follow safety protocols issued by local authorities.
Dubai Police once again demonstrated why the city is regarded as one of the safest places for high-value commerce, especially in the luxury goods and precious stones trade.
