These stones are often smuggled across borders into neighboring countries. There, they are mixed with legally mined, KP-certified stocks and sold on the open market, masking their origin.
Those who buy or profit from blood diamonds include middlemen, criminal syndicates, and, often unknowingly, international retailers and consumers. 1. Illicit Traders and Smugglers who buys blood diamonds
The initial buyers are typically black-market merchants and organized crime syndicates, particularly in West and Central Africa. These stones are often smuggled across borders into
Rebel factions in countries like Angola, Sierra Leone, and the Central African Republic (CAR) directly seize diamond mines and sell the stones to arms traffickers to fund military campaigns. In the 1990s, blood diamonds constituted up to
In the 1990s, blood diamonds constituted up to 15% of the global trade, generating huge profits from consumer sales. 3. Companies and State-Linked Entities
Because blood diamonds can be mixed with legitimate stocks and subsequently cut and polished, they become virtually identical to non-conflict diamonds, making them difficult to detect once they reach consumers.