Woman facing smuggling charges after nearly $400,000 in diamonds seized at Pearson

A foreign national was arrested earlier this month at Pearson International Airport after she was caught smuggling nearly $400,000 in rough diamonds inside her body, according to the RCMP.

“It does happen from time and quite frequently when we see it’s to do with smuggling in drugs,” said RCMP Sgt. Richard Rollings. “They use various techniques to try to hide it in their bodies.”

He would not confirm how the 10,202 diamonds managed to get inside her body, but he explained that some of the methods used to conceal the contraband are to swallow it, insert it or wrap it in condoms.

There is an ongoing investigation into the source of the roughly 1,500 carats worth of gems as police fear they may be “conflict diamonds.”

Helena Bodner, 66, was arrested roughly two weeks ago and has been in custody since she arrived from Trinidad and Tobago.

Canada Border Services Agency has charged Bodner with offenses under the Customs Act. The RCMP has also charged her under the Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act.

Bodner is scheduled to appear at a Brampton courthouse on Friday.