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Interpol warned over Zim diamonds

British mining company has warned Interpol that it believes that the Zimbabwean Government is preparing to sell stolen diamonds, The Times reported.

African Consolidated Resources (ACR) owns the rights to mine the Marange diamond field in Zimbabwe, but it has been replaced on the property by rival companies linked to the Government and by the security forces, the report said.

The Zimbabwean High Court has ruled that ACR, which is AIM-listed, owns the mining rights legitimately and, as a result, the company believes that any diamond sales from Marange amount to trading in stolen goods. It has alerted Interpol and wants diamond buyers in the United States and Europe to be prosecuted for receiving stolen property if they buy the Zimbabwean stones, said the Times report.

On Friday, the Zimbabwean Government suspended the sale of 300,000 carats from the Marange fields amid concerns over the management of the mines.

ACR hopes that the Zimbabwean Government has bowed to pressure to recognise its rights. The Kimberley Process diamond certification board, set up by the mining industry to prevent trafficking, has been called in to assess Marange and sales have been suspended until monitors are in place, the report said.

According to ACR, the 300,000 carats of rough diamonds prepared for sale last week amount to only one hour's production at the mine. Andrew Cranswick, the chief executive of ACR, said: "You have to ask where the rest has gone. We believe diamonds are being smuggled out."

Thankful Musukutwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Mines Ministry, said: "All shipments from all production sites in the Marange area will be subject to examination and certification by a Kimberley Process monitor. There will be no sales or exports of Marange diamonds until all government regulations and KPCS stipulations have been met."

The Times.