A Georgian citizen was taken into custody by customs agents at Ben-Gurion International Airport earlier this week after he was found to be carrying diamonds worth about $200,000. The Ramle Magistrate’s Court released the suspect on bail.

Tangis Kikinashvili entered the country via the Green Line, not having to make a customs declaration. An agent decided to pull him over for a random inspection, finding the rough diamonds which the suspect said are valued at about $200,000.

Customs agents also checked to see if Kikinashvili is a member of the diamond exchange, which he is not, so he is not granted any special dispensation regarding the importation of diamonds.

Officials also report the diamonds are worth more than he is admitting to.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)