Police arrest 31 over diamond robbery at Brussels airport Belgian, Swiss and French police arrested at least 31 people allegedly linked to one of the world's largest and most spectacular diamond robberies, which was carried out at Brussels airport in February. About 250 officers conducted raids in Belgium on Wednesday that led to the arrest of 24 people, Belgian police said. The arrests came a day after a man was detained by French authorities and at least another six were arrested in Switzerland. The police have yet to name those arrested but all were aged between 30 and 50. Belgian prosecutors said cash and diamonds were recovered during the operation. The $50m-theft was staged with military precision on the night of February 18 by eight heavily armed men dressed as police officers. The gang drove two vehicles with flashing police lights across the tarmac at Zaventem airport and stopped next to their target: a Switzerland-bound aircraft which had just been loaded with 120 parcels of the gems. In less than three minutes the thieves opened the cargo hatch of the Swiss Fokker 100 airliner where the diamonds were stored, seized the lot and disappeared into the darkness. "It was very well organised, very swift, efficient and well planned," Jan Van der Cruysse, an airport spokesman said the next day. In the aftermath of the robbery, during which no one was injured, Belgian and international media speculated whether the gang included diamond industry insiders and had links to any security staff. Neither aspect was proved. The police have yet to clarify the identities of 31 people arrested. The suspect arrested in France is believed to be one of the eight members of the gang that staged the robbery, Belgian police said. "It's the only person that we can say at this stage could have participated in the events on the tarmac," said Jean-Marc Meilleur, the prosecutor's spokesman. "This person has a very heavy judicial background in France and his extradition to Belgium has been requested."" In Switzerland, we have found diamonds that we can already say are coming from the heist and in Belgium large amounts of money have been found. And the investigation is still ongoing," Mr Meilleur said. Police in Geneva said a businessman and lawyer were among those arrested on Tuesday. "A big haul was seized, of SFr100,000 (€81,000) in cash and a large quantity of diamonds, the value of which is currently being estimated," the Swiss prosecutor's office said. The robbery took place about 45km from Antwerp, the second-biggest city in Belgium and the world's capital for diamond cutting. About 80 per cent of all rough diamonds go through the Flemish city, according to industry data.