Brussels Diamond Robbery: 31 Arrested Across 3 Countries In $50 Million Heist

Following a massive diamond robbery in Brussels, Belgium, 31 people were arrested across central Europe and have been accused of stealing $50 million worth of the precious gems from the runway of a Belgian airport.

Many observers have likened the Brussels heist to that of "Ocean's Eleven", a film in which Frank Sinatra or George Clooney, depending on the era, played Danny Ocean, a man who leads ten other men in a massive heist of cash from Las Vegas casinos. Like Ocean's crew, those involved in the February diamond robbery in Brussels swept in quickly, physically hurt no one, and escaped with the jewels.

The Washington Post reported that diamonds belonging to a 'global diamond center' in Antwerp, Belgium, were being packed onto a plane in Brussels. Just before the loading of the flight to Zurich, Switzerland, was complete, a large number of people burst onto the tarmac wearing police uniforms and brandishing automatic weapons. They seized 120 boxes of loot, and turned right back around and left the scene. The van they drove that day was reportedly found burned soonafter.

The Brussels prosecutors' office spokesman Jean-Marc Meilleur reported a break in the case this week: "In Switzerland, we have found diamonds that we can already say are coming from the heist."

One suspect was captured in France, "six to eight" were captured in Switzerland, and 24 were caught in Brussels itself, in a massive sweep by authorities. An Antwerp World Diamond Center spokesman said he was happy to hear the news, but was not looking forward to sorting the uncut diamonds: "When they were stolen, the diamonds were in different parcels. Maybe now they have all been mixed up," said De Wolf, noting the skill it requires to properly sort diamonds.