Police: Smuggler swallowed 220 diamonds
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Police in South Africa say they've arrested a 25-year-old man who swallowed 220 polished diamonds in an attempt to smuggle them out of the country.
Capt. Paul Ramaloko of the South African Police Service said investigators arrested the man Tuesday night as he waited in line at security at O.R. Tambo International Airport just outside of Johannesburg. Ramaloko said a scan of the man's body showed the diamonds, which later were recovered. He said the man had been on his way to Dubai.
Ramaloko said the diamonds are worth about $2.3 million. Authorities believe the man belongs to a smuggling ring, as another man was arrested in March attempting the same thing.
South Africa is one of the world's top diamond producers.
Capt. Paul Ramaloko of the South African Police Service said investigators arrested the man Tuesday night as he waited in line at security at O.R. Tambo International Airport just outside of Johannesburg. Ramaloko said a scan of the man's body showed the diamonds, which later were recovered. He said the man had been on his way to Dubai.
Ramaloko said the diamonds are worth about $2.3 million. Authorities believe the man belongs to a smuggling ring, as another man was arrested in March attempting the same thing.
South Africa is one of the world's top diamond producers.
What a crappy way to make a living.
Are these the new brown diamonds that are all the rage for christmas this year?
That would definitely be obvious on a full body scan. Screener: What's this in your gut. Smuggler: That's some diamond plate that I needed to correct a hernia.
Assuming he would get away, hope he can afford a good diamond cleaner actually willing to do the job once they come out. An expensive dirty job. ;)
 @Zoso Hey...they can feature this on the next episode of "Dirty Jobs" with Mike Rowe.  On second thought, I have a hard enough time watching the animal poop so maybe that's not the best topic.
Wouldn't it just be karma if those diamonds did bodily harm on their way out? Can you imagine trying to "pass" those as they scrape against your intestines and out your hole?
"Which were later recovered" Um eww....I feel for the poor guy who had THAT job...
 @cm257n7 I personally think they should have been surgically removed.  The guy would have to live with the reminder of that for the rest of his life.  Of course, if they rip the you know what out of his rear end, he'd have to live with the consequences of that for the rest of his life as well.Â
Now that is putting money where your mouth is!
Momma always said we have to eat our carats.
@Bornhere Now that's funny! LOL!!
would these be considered blood diamonds, or brown diamonds?
 @drysuperfly fancy diamonds
 @drysuperfly Might be both if the dude has some gastrointestinal problems