AWDC states clarifications on annual report of the Antwerp Police

The reports refers to money-laundering activities and conflict diamonds
AWDC states clarifications on annual report of the Antwerp Police

Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has mentioned its clarifications on matters referring to the annual report of the Antwerp Police, which relates to money-laundering activities linked to the diamond industry and the issue of conflict diamonds originating from the Central African Republic.

The annual report mentions that Antwerp plays a crucial role as a distributing centre for cash money stemming from criminal activities. According to the report, the Police has taken note that the strict anti-money legislation aren’t applied, especially in the diamond and gold trade.

“The authorities refer to the raids in and around the railway station and diamond square mile on September 30 and October 1”, says Margaux Donckier, spokesperson for the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. “At that time, the media wrongly assumed those raids involved diamond traders.” Following the AWDC’s reaction, the Antwerp judicial authorities issued a press release clarifying that this was not the case. Therefore, the AWDC strongly regrets this clarification was not incorporated in the Antwerp Police annual report.

Relating to the said subject of conflict diamonds, the AWDC clarified - in March 2014, the experts of the FPS Economy discovered a suspicious shipment of rough diamonds in the Diamond Office. Consequently, the FPS Economy, the Belgian Kimberley Process authority, immediately notified the judicial authorities and requested advice from the KP Working Group of Diamond Experts. It is clear that this shipment of potential conflict diamonds was actually discovered thanks to the strict controls that are applied by the Diamond Office. At the time, the Antwep World Diamond Centre communicated extensively on the issue, underpinning Antwerp’s strong commitment to stop the trade in conflict diamonds in the city.


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