A shipment of rough diamonds sent from Dubai arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, yesterday morning via a regular courier company. However, the shipment has been held up by the Diamond Office of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) on suspicion that the diamonds in fact originated from the controversial Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe.
Although the diamonds were presented with official Dubai Kimberley Process (KP) export certificates, the European Community's (EC) economic authorities have seemingly adopted a broader approach regarding the interpretation of the European economic sanctions against Zimbabwe. As a result, the EC authorities believe that the government of Zimbabwe and/or a specifically sanctioned entity may be receiving benefits from this shipment.
The European position on the matter is still in the process of being formalised, but it seems highly likely that if anything in the documentation of the diamond shipment mentions or suggests the Marange area or mining companies like Canadile or Mbada are involved, the authorities feel obligated to confiscate it.
Currently the Dubai shipment is being held up and has not yet been confiscated. The AWDC's Diamond Office sent queries to Dubai in order to receive clarification on the origin of the diamond goods. Although there is no certainty that the goods may have come from Zimbabwe, the recent controversies over Zimbabwean diamond trade have created a tense operating atmosphere which has spurred the Diamond Office and others to be extra vigilant with shipments.
Authorities are therefore waiting for confirmation from Dubai rather than releasing the goods. As of yet no further developments have been reported.