Diamond Smugglers

<p><strong>THE TRUE STORY OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRIME RING AND ITS DOWNFALL</strong></p><p>In 1957 as the Cold War raged Ian Fleming took a respite from writing James Bond to craft a work of nonfiction every bit as tense as a Bond adventure. Aided by an ex-MI5 agent and International Diamond Security Organization operative going by the alias John Blaize Fleming chronicled the IDSO's infiltration of the million-carat network―the world's most notorious diamond smuggling ring.</p><p>Every year a shadowy band of racketeers pirated a fortune in diamonds out of Africa and the majority of the stolen gems wound up in the hands of Communist nations. In response the IDSO commissioned a private army led by legendary British spymaster Sir Percy Sillitoe to penetrate and topple the ring.</p><p>When the operation was complete the <em>Sunday Times</em> gave the story to Fleming who had impressed Sillitoe with his earlier Bond adventure <em>Diamonds Are Forever</em>. A remarkable feat of investigative journalism <em>The Diamond Smugglers</em> is the thrilling true story behind one of the greatest spy operations in history. </p>