AWDC has expressed its severe anger over what it terms as the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s “miscommunication”. This is in reference to the recent house searches conducted in Antwerp related to suspected drug money laundering cases.

 "For the second time in just three months, our entire industry has been put in a bad light because of an incorrect communication by the Antwerp Department of Justice," says Margaux Donckier, spokeswoman for AWDC.

Pointing out that though the Antwerp public prosecutor had rectified its miscommunication twice already at AWDC’s specific request, “the damage it has caused is irrevocable”, a press note stated.  

AWDC clarified that it had no issue with the Department of Justice putting out communications about its investigations, even if those investigations are linked to the diamond sector. “However, it is unacceptable that stories begin to lead a life of their own as a result of unclear and insufficiently nuanced communication by the Prosecutor.” AWDC said.

On its part, the Antwerp Public Prosecutor also put out a press release clarifying that “... the Antwerp Prosecutor wishes to emphasise that only one suspect has ties to the Antwerp diamond sector. The other suspects are not directly connected to the diamond industry. It would not be truthful to conclude that mainly diamond dealers are the subject of our investigation, and that the money laundering operations were facilitated by the diamond industry.”

While AWDC called upon the media to double-check information received, including with the help of the AWDC; the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s office asked that the media to “report on this matter with the necessary caution and nuance”.