DUBAI, Aug 18: Dubai police apprehended three suspects just hours after a rare pink diamond valued at $25 million was stolen, authorities said Monday.

The Dubai Police General Command confirmed the theft had been foiled in a statement carried by the UAE’s official news agency WAM.

Police said a diamond trader had brought the gem from Europe and was lured to a villa under the pretense of a viewing by a purported wealthy client. The diamond was taken during the staged inspection.

An emergency call released by the Dubai Media Office captured the trader saying, “I came to meet a client to sell a diamond to them… It’s stolen.”

Within eight hours, three individuals from an unspecified Asian country were arrested, police added, noting the operation involved specialized field teams and advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

Footage released showed the suspects with their faces blurred, along with CCTV images of the gang during the theft.

Dubai, a major center for diamond trading, is known for its strict security and law enforcement. The incident follows a separate jewelry store robbery in Seattle earlier this month, where thieves stole $2 million in merchandise in just 90 seconds.