Dutch military police hold 7 for 2005 diamond heist

The Hague - Dutch military police have detained seven people in Amsterdam and Valencia suspected of involvement in a multi-million dollar diamond heist nearly 12 years ago.

In a statement, the Royal Marechaussee police say the five men and two women were detained on Friday and on Saturday on suspicion of involvement in the armed robbery and money laundering.

On February 25, 2005, armed robbers hijacked an armoured car at a secure area of Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and made off with diamonds worth more than $72m.

Part of the loot was quickly recovered from a getaway car, but the Marechaussee says diamonds worth $43m remain missing.

Police say the seven suspects, all Dutch nationals, were tracked down based on an investigation of new information.