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Title details for Flight of the Diamond Smugglers by Matthew Gavin Frank - Available

Flight of the Diamond Smugglers

by Matthew Gavin Frank
Jonathan Yen
Audiobook
Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
For nearly eighty years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed "overmined" and abandoned, American journalist Matthew Gavin Frank sets out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating smuggling-particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air. Entering Die Sperrgebiet ("The Forbidden Zone") is like entering an eerie ghost town, but Frank is surprised by the number of people willing-even eager-to talk with him. Soon he meets Msizi, a young diamond digger, and his pigeon, Bartholomew, who helps him steal diamonds. It's a deadly game: pigeons are shot on sight by mine security, and Msizi knows of smugglers who have disappeared because of their crimes. From the mining towns of Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth to Kleinzee's shores littered with shipwrecks, Frank investigates a long overlooked story. Weaving interviews with local diamond miners who raise pigeons in secret with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental managers, and vigilante pigeon hunters, Frank reveals how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town.
Expand title description text
Publisher: HighBridge Edition: Unabridged

OverDrive Listen audiobook

  • ISBN: 9781696603225
  • File size: 220348 KB
  • Release date: March 9, 2021
  • Duration: 07:39:03

MP3 audiobook

  • ISBN: 9781696603225
  • File size: 220375 KB
  • Release date: March 9, 2021
  • Duration: 07:43:00
  • Number of parts: 7

Formats

OverDrive Listen audiobook
MP3 audiobook

subjects

Biography & Autobiography Pets Technology Nonfiction

Languages

English

For nearly eighty years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed "overmined" and abandoned, American journalist Matthew Gavin Frank sets out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating smuggling-particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air. Entering Die Sperrgebiet ("The Forbidden Zone") is like entering an eerie ghost town, but Frank is surprised by the number of people willing-even eager-to talk with him. Soon he meets Msizi, a young diamond digger, and his pigeon, Bartholomew, who helps him steal diamonds. It's a deadly game: pigeons are shot on sight by mine security, and Msizi knows of smugglers who have disappeared because of their crimes. From the mining towns of Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth to Kleinzee's shores littered with shipwrecks, Frank investigates a long overlooked story. Weaving interviews with local diamond miners who raise pigeons in secret with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental managers, and vigilante pigeon hunters, Frank reveals how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town.
Expand title description text
Biography & Autobiography Pets Technology Nonfiction
  • Details

    Publisher:
    HighBridge
    Edition:
    Unabridged

    OverDrive Listen audiobook
    ISBN: 9781696603225
    File size: 220348 KB
    Release date: March 9, 2021
    Duration: 07:39:03

    MP3 audiobook
    ISBN: 9781696603225
    File size: 220375 KB
    Release date: March 9, 2021
    Duration: 07:43:00
    Number of parts: 7

  • Creators
  • Formats
    OverDrive Listen audiobook
    MP3 audiobook
  • Languages
    English
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