Who Buys Blood Diamonds -
Some buying houses have been documented purchasing diamonds in conflict areas without adequately investigating if they financed armed groups. 2. The International Jewelry Market
The initial buyers are typically black-market merchants and organized crime syndicates, particularly in West and Central Africa. who buys blood diamonds
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 Some buying houses have been documented purchasing diamonds
Jewellers and wholesalers may unwittingly purchase diamonds that passed through illicit channels, as traffickers hide the diamonds' origins. In the 1990s, blood diamonds constituted up to
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.
Those who buy or profit from blood diamonds include middlemen, criminal syndicates, and, often unknowingly, international retailers and consumers. 1. Illicit Traders and Smugglers