Republic of Congo banned from global diamond trade on smuggling charge Nation suspected of dealing in black-market

From: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Date: July 11, 2004| Author: DANIEL BALINT-KURTI | Copyright information

Republic of Congo banned from global diamond trade on smuggling charge

Nation suspected of dealing in black-market conflict gems, group says

By DANIEL BALINT-KURTI Associated Press

Sunday, July 11, 2004

Kinshasa, Congo -- A U.N.-backed body has barred the Republic of Congo from the legitimate world diamond trade, accusing it of blatantly sending millions of dollars in smuggled gems onto the global market.

Suspending the West African country was "necessary to...

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