Surat: Most of the Rs 250 crore worth rough diamonds robbed in the daring heist at Brussels airport on Monday night were to come to Surat via Switzerland for cutting and polishing.
The diamonds were to be delivered to small and medium diamond unit owners, who usually source their rough stones from Antwerp.
Dinesh Navadia, president, Surat Diamond Association (SDA) told TOI: "We are gathering the list of people to whom these rough stones diamonds were to be delivered in Surat. It is estimated that around 90 per cent of the goods were bound for Surat via Switzerland."
According to Navadia, the diamantaires in Antwerp, majority of them Indians, are in a shock following the armed robbery in the high-security area at the Brussels airport. In the past two years, two DTC sightholder Indian companies have been targeted by the gangs in thefts worth over Rs 200 crore.
21/02/13 Melvyn Reggie Thomas/Times of India
