Foreign Nationals Suspected in NT$200 Million Diamond Heist

Police are seeking 6 men and 2 women said to be of a south Asian appearance after a bag containing NT$200 million worth of diamonds was stolen in broad daylight at the 2017 Taiwan Jewelry and Gem Fair yesterday, November 6.

The fair, held at the Taipei World Trade Center in Xinyi District, had just concluded and exhibitors were packing up at the time of the robbery. According to a report in Liberty Times Network, a 46 year-old woman named Wu had put the bag down in the front seat of a car while she loaded goods into the back.

A police officer was standing nearby but was distracted by a man believed to be part of the group who approached the officer with a map and asked him for directions.

Ms Wu told police that the bag contained a 14 carat pink diamond valued at NT$100 million, a 7 carat diamond worth NT$20 million, a one carat red diamond with a price tag of NT$60 million, 3 jade rings, and one sapphire brooch.

China Times Reports that Xinyi District police found the bag laying in grass near the WTC, but the diamonds were missing. China times also noted that this is not the first time thieves have targeted the annual fair. In 2015, three Chinese women stole an NT$4.2 million dollar stone by substituting it with a fake.

Police said they had no video footage of the bag being taken, but believe that a group of people of a south Asian, or Indian appearance, who were nearby at the time and were seen getting into two taxis shortly afterwards were involved.

The 2017 Taipei Jewelry and Gem Fair was held at the trade center from November 4-6 and had involved 180 exhibitors from 11 countries.

Taiwan English News is an independent publication with no corporate funding. If you found this article informative, and would like to support my work, please buy me a coffee or support me on Patreon. Subscribe to Taiwan English News for free to receive the latest news via email. Advertising queries are welcome. Share, like, comment below.