‘Cursed’ smuggled emerald to return to Brazil, US judge rules

[Craig Nigrelli]

YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE BRADY BUNCH EPISODE ABOUT A CURSED TIKI IDOL THAT BRINGS BAD LUCK TO THE FAMILY WHILE ON VACATION IN HAWAII.

TO GET RID OF THE BAD LUCK THE BOYS MUST RETURN THE IDOL TO AN ANCIENT BURIAL GROUND.

NOW – WE FAST FORWARD MORE THAN 50 YEARS TO A REAL-LIFE BATTLE OVER — NOT A CURSED IDOL – BUT A REPORTEDLY CURSED EMERALD BETWEEN THE NATION OF BRAZIL AND AMERICAN GEM SPECULATORS.

ACCORDING TO BRAZIL — THE 836-POUND BAHIA (BUH-HEE-UH) EMERALD WAS TAKEN FROM A MINE IN 2001 AND SMUGGLED INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE COUNTRY WANTED IT BACK.

HOWEVER, SEVERAL AMERICAN GEM ENTHUSIASTS WERE LOOKING TO MAKE A FORTUNE FROM THE GEM – -ONE OF THE LARGEST EMERALDS – IF NOT THE LARGEST – IN THE WORLD – CONTAINING 180,000 KARATS AND  ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH AS MUCH AS 1 BILLION DOLLARS.

ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST – THE EMERALD WAS IN THE POSSESSION OF A BRAZILLIAN MERCHANT – NICKNAMED “THE GENERAL” WHO HAD PURCHASED IT FOR 1700 DOLLARS.

THE GENERAL THEN SOLD IT TO TWO GEM PROSPECTORS FOR 8 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IN 2005 PROSPECTORS SHIPPED IT TO THE US IN HOPES OF FINDING A BUYER – WHERE REPORTS SAY IT SURVIVED FLOODING FROM HURRICANE KATRINA.

THEY FOUND A FEW AMERICANS WHO JOINED TOGETHER FOR OWNERSHIP – AN IDAHO BUSINESSMAN, A FLORIDA MAN DEALING IN REAL ESTATE AND GEMS, AND A CALIFORNIA PLUMBER.

WHEN IN-FIGHTING ENSUED BETWEEN THESE MEN – THE LOS ANGELES SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED OF ITS EXISTENCE AND SEIZED THE GEM—KEEPING IT IN CUSTODY FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

THE GEM ALSO CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT – WHO ALERTED BRAZILIAN OFFICIALS.

THE TWO BRAZILLIAN SPECULATORS WERE TRIED AND FOUND GULITY OF SMUGGLING  AND SENTENCED TO PRISON.

IN 2015 — AS LEGAL FIGHTS CONTINUED IN AMERICA OVER THE GEM’S OWNERSHIP — THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT ASKED ITS US COUNTERPARTS FOR HELP IN RETURNING THE EMERALD.

NINE YEARS LATER — A US DISTRICT JUDGE RULED THE EMERALD SHOULD GO BACK HOME TO ITS NATIVE COUNTRY.

LAST WEEK — JUDGE REGGIE B. WALTON SIDED WITH BRAZIL – DESPITE AMERICAN SPECULATORS’ BELIEFS THAT IT BELONGS TO THEM.

KIT MORRISON – THE IDAHO BUSINESSMAN WE REFERRED TO EARLIER – TOLD THE WASHINGTON POST – HE’LL ACCEPT THE RULING – SAYING QUOTE “When you are an investor and entrepreneur, you do everything you can to protect, preserve and improve the investment and opportunity. However, you cannot control the things that are out of your control.”

NOW, AS FOR THAT BRADY BUNCH EPISODE WHEN GREG, PETER, AND BOBBY WENT TO RETURN THE CURSED TIKI IDOL TO ITS HOME, THEY ENDED UP BEING HELD CAPTIVE BY AN ARCHAELOGIST PLAYED BY VINCENT PRICE. NOW BARRING ANY APPEALS, THE CURSED EMERALD WILL SOON BE ON ITS WAY BACK TO ITS HOME.

STAY TUNED.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

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