In a significant operation against illegal activities, Angola’s Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) confiscated 379 diamond stones of various carats in Lucapa and Xá-muteba municipalities, Lunda-Norte Province. The seizure, carried out on Saturday, targeted illegal possession and trafficking of the gemstones.
According to an official SIC statement shared on Sunday, the diamonds were found in the possession of four foreign nationals from India, Guinea Conakry, and Sierra Leone, aged between 38 and 56.
The operation, described as a “micro-operation,” aimed to address several illicit practices, including diamond smuggling, fuel trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal immigration.
Authorities also confiscated 200,000 kwanzas, two scales, tweezers, a diamond measuring ruler, and other tools associated with the illegal trade.
The seized diamonds will be entrusted to Angola’s national diamond company, ENDIAMA E.P., for safekeeping. Meanwhile, the individuals involved have been handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation and legal proceedings.