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Thieves Stole $25 Million Pink Diamond, Arrested Hours Later August 19, 2025 (0 comments)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--Dubai Police said it caught three thieves who stole a 21.25-carat fancy intense pink diamond from a dealer hours after committing the theft. It has a value of $25 million.

In a statement from the Government of Dubai Media Office, police said it caught the criminals when the thieves attempted to smuggle it out of the country. Calling it “Operation Pink Diamond,” Dubai police said the gang spent a year trying to steal the precious gem.

The theft occurred Monday and the thieves were captured, and the diamond was recovered hours later.

[Image and details of the $25 million pink diamond provided by Dubai Police.]

The criminals’ plan, according to police was to locate the diamond’s owner, who was not identified, and deceive him into believing that a wealthy buyer was interested in purchasing it. To establish credibility, the suspects posed as wealthy individuals by renting luxury cars and arranging meetings at upscale hotels, eventually persuading the merchant to move the diamond out of his secure shop, enabling them to steal it.

Police said its criminal investigation team foiled the plan by leveraging advanced technologies to track the locations of the thieves and arrest them. The three thieves were of Asian nationality, according to police, but were otherwise unidentified. The diamond was safely recovered before it could be smuggled out of the country in a small refrigerator bound for an unidentified Asian destination.

The pink diamond boasts exceptional clarity, symmetry, and polish, police said, adding that “its extraordinary value and rarity made it a prime target.”

Dubai Police revealed that the merchant had imported the diamond from a European country to sell in Dubai. The gang had closely monitored its arrival and devised a sophisticated plan to steal it, posing as wealthy intermediaries representing a potential buyer, police said.

The gang scheduled multiple meetings with the merchant, rented high-end cars, and met him at luxurious hotels to convince him of their credibility. “They even hired a renowned diamond expert to authenticate the gem, further persuading the merchant of their seriousness,” according to the police statement.

The gang lured the merchant to a villa under the pretext of introducing him to the “buyer.” Once the diamond was brought out, they nabbed it and fled, police said.

As soon as the merchant reported the theft, a specialized task force was formed to identify and locate the three suspects, who had initially lived together but separated after the heist and moved to different locations. Dubai Police teams raided these locations simultaneously, apprehending the suspects, and recovering the diamond before it could leave the country.

The pink diamond’s owner described Dubai Police’s swift response as “astonishing,” police said.

After calling 999, multiple patrols arrived within minutes, began the investigation, and offered constant reassurance.

“To my surprise, the very next morning, they called to say the suspects had been arrested and the diamond recovered,” the diamond dealer said.

Operating in Dubai since 2005, the dealer admitted being caught off guard by the scheme and urged others in the industry to follow official safety guidelines set by the emirate, according to the police statement.

“Dubai has become a safe global center for diamond trade. It’s important we uphold the standards that make that possible.”

Read the full government statement.