I don't think buying is the problem, but it is illegal to smuggle them out of the country and from what I know they have very harsh punishments. You are smuggling illegal goods. They could put you away for a long time.

I guess you don't. You have to be an expert in the first place. I would never buy a diamond ring there either, it may all be just glass and there is no way for you to know this.

I was watching a similar program about Sierra Leone and the diamond trade; the reporter went undercover and met people who would smuggle the diamond out of the country him them to Belgium, then again how would costume offer a small diamond hidden in your show are the lining of your coat or even if you choose to swallow it.

Beaches around the world

There was a show on tv recently over here about the diamonds that can be smuggled out. They put the diamonds to test with an expert and nine times out of ten the diamonds where not what they where made out to be. Interesting results. I would'nt buy diamonds this way. You even have to be careful buying from the jewellery shops now days some are not selling you what you pay for.

i heard that smuggling diamonds was as just as bad as smuggling drugs you would get a similar jail sentence.

I agree with James. Would you really risk this kind of punishment for a short term gain of a few thousand dollars? Maybe what you are buying aren't even real Diamonds anyways.

I think the risks are far too great. 

However what I like the least is the way the mine workers are exploited. The Diamond that you buy in your local jewlery shop has made many people (mostly companies) rich, while those guys are slaving in the mines for pennies a day, risking their lifes. I wish that more of that money would actually trickle down to those guys so they can have a decent life. I think that would be only fair.

Andre

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i always wonder why all those african countries are so poor when they have valuable Resource
such as diamonds and oil. why are those country not seeing more of the money form all the diamonds and oil that the country produces.

Beach

Because foreign countries own the mines and oil fields. It was the same story in Bolivia. The country exports a lot of natural gas and is the poorest country in South America, because the profits went into the pockets of rich foreign investors.

The companies remain in power because they bribe the government and because those countries have huge debts with the countries that exploit them. The whole thing is a scam anyways, because we are selling them our overpriced products and buy the oil so cheap. Africa is the poorest continent with some of the most incredible natural riches. Unfortunately I don't see this to change.

Andre

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I have also heard this. They say that punishment is just as bad as if it were drugs. I know I would never try it. There is no diamond worth it too me.

That has always been a problem in Africa... There must be a law that can protect the legal traders...

There are illegal traders that will sell yo udiamond for a low price but, because it's known all over the world already you will mostly stumbble accros people trying to sell you plain pieces of glass , telling they are real diamonds. On the other hand, even if you find real diamonds at very low rates, the chances are you will never get them accross border...and you risk doing time for this, it's VERY illegal.