June 17, 2023 :Surat Diamond Dealers Exploit Loopholes in Sierra Leone's Diamond Trade

June 17, 2023 :Surat Diamond Dealers Exploit Loopholes in Sierra Leone's Diamond Trade

Samrat Patel (name changed), a diamond dealer from Surat, has become a frequent visitor to Sierra Leone, a diamond mining country in West Africa. Patel, like many other dealers from Surat, travels to Sierra Leone multiple times a year, purchasing high-value rough diamonds from artisanal workers employed in the local diamond mines

Patel's visits to Sierra Leone have resulted in a lucrative bounty of rough diamonds that he brings back with him. The diamonds are concealed in bags to evade the scrutiny of customs officials at the airport, as carbon-based diamonds are not easily detectable by sophisticated scanning machines

A diamond dealer who is a frequent visitor to Sierra Leone told The Blunt Times, “We have a network of artisanal workers in Sierra Leone from whom we purchase diamonds”. “They (artisanal workers) steal the diamonds from mines and they have to sell it within a day or two. Since we pay them in dollars, it is a quite a big deal for the poor workers”

The prevalence of Surat diamond dealers visiting Sierra Leone and engaging in the trade of illicit diamonds has raised concerns within the global diamond industry. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, established in 2003, aims to prevent the circulation of conflict diamonds and ensure the legitimacy of diamond trade.

Sierra Leone is recognized as the world's eighth-largest producer of diamonds, with a production output of 899kct in 2022, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.

The exploitation of Sierra Leone's diamond trade by Surat diamond dealers raises serious ethical and legal concerns. The lack of proper certification and the questionable origin of these diamonds not only undermines the Kimberley Process but also tarnishes the reputation of the global diamond industry

“Efforts must be made to curb such illicit practices and enforce stricter regulations to ensure transparency, ethical sourcing, and fair trade practices in the diamond market” said an expert in the diamond industry.