Belgian authorities make breakthrough in two year old diamond heist at Brussels airport

Belgian authorities have reported made a ‘big breakthrough’ in 2013 diamond heist wherein thieves had run away with gems and diamonds worth Euros 40 million from Brussels airport, says a report.

The report further adds that after a series of raids, authorities briefly detained several suspects and were analysing goods that could be linked to the brazen theft, which ranks as one of the biggest diamond heists in memory. However, Officials refused to divulge how many people had been detained but said they had to be released at the end of the day, adds a report.

In February 18, 2013, eight gunmen had reportedly cut a fence around Brussels airport, drove onto the tarmac where an armored car was transferring the gems onto a Zurich-bound airplane and drove off again with the plunder.

So far, 14 have already been charged for direct and indirect involvement in the case. However, over 30 million euros in gems are still missing, adds a report.

The theft became known worldwide because of the bold plan of attack that some likened to a screenplay in the Ocean’s movie trilogy. With pinpoint precision, the thieves anticipated when an armored car from Antwerp’s famous diamond district would arrive at the airport. The only weak point in its travel to Switzerland was the transfer onto the plane. So with black cars and blue police lights they cut onto the tarmac and in dark police clothing and toting machine guns they stopped the transport and loaded the diamonds into their cars. They then made a high-speed getaway, says a report.