After tracking the diamond’s arrival in Dubai from Europe, the gang devised a “sophisticated plan,” in order to steal it. The thieves passed themselves off as wealthy dealers by renting luxury cars and holding meetings in high-end hotels. They even went as far as to hire a diamond expert to authenticate the stone, said police.

Dubai Police said they caught three persons trying to leave the country eight hours after stealing a rare pink diamond in an elaborate scheme that took a year to execute

The pink diamond, weighing 21 carats and boasting the highest purity, is considered one of the rarest in the world — with a global rarity rate of just 0.01 per cent