Qatari authorities have arrested a passenger as he attempted to smuggle 53 pearls and diamonds worth $1.2 million into the country through Hamad International Airport (HIA).
The passenger was in possession of two suitcases, and told the customs officers that he wanted to enter Qatar with only one case and transfer the other one on a transit trip, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
During the inspection of the two cases, the customs inspector had suspicions about the passenger and referred him to another officer for a body search. The officer discovered small packages under his clothes around his abdomen and back. When the packages were removed and opened, the officer found seven diamond rings, three pearl necklaces and 43 pieces of natural pearl.
