Botswana To Crack Down On Diamond Smuggling

The head of state of Botswana recommitted his country to the battle against the illegal diamond trade, Rough and Diamond reported. Ian Khama, the president of Botswana said that the country continues to spare no expense to shut down illegal diamond mining activities, as well as the sale of diamonds harvested in this manner.   Botswanan President Khana also noted that the country would continue to examine rules affecting diamond companies operating on its soil, with an eye to creating regulatory conditions that are more optimal for them. Khana stated that the country is responsive to the concerns of foreign diamond industry firms, and that it has streamlined its body of laws that govern the diamond trade to improve its transparency and predictability, according to Rough and Polished. Khana made the comments at a ceremony to mark the recent opening of Lucara's Karowe diamond mine, which is expected to produce 400,000 carats of diamonds per annum until 2027.