A man from eastern Zimbabwe has been caught trying to smuggle 72 diamonds out of the country in his underwear, a state-owned newspaper reports. An article in the Manica Post said the diamonds were worth $14 335.
Tapiwa Brian Mhlanga, 29, tried to run away from detectives who wanted to search him at the Forbes Border Post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the paper reported.
The officials overpowered him and conducted a body search.
When they got down to his underwear, they found two plastic bags containing 72 diamond pieces, the report said.
Mhlanga has appeared in court to face charges of illegally possessing and smuggling precious stones.
Forbes Border Post is one of the nearest crossings to Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields, site of one of the world’s most significant discoveries in recent years.
In March this year, an electrician working at Mbada Diamonds in Marange was found with 10 diamonds stuffed down the barrel of a pen.
