Police in New Zealand are in a unique holding pattern, monitoring a suspect accused of ingesting an extremely valuable piece of jewellery in an alleged smuggling attempt straight from a James Bond plot.
The Alleged Theft at Partridge Jewellers
A 32-year-old man, who has not been named publicly, was arrested inside Partridge Jewellers in Auckland on November 28. He stands accused of swallowing an ornate, limited-edition Fabergé egg pendant valued at 33,000 New Zealand dollars, equivalent to approximately £15,000 or $19,000 USD.
The man appeared at the Auckland District Court the following day, November 29, where he did not enter a plea to a charge of theft. He was remanded in custody, with a subsequent court date set for December 8.
A Precious Loot Inspired by 007
The item at the centre of this unusual case is no ordinary trinket. It is a limited-edition Fabergé egg pendant directly inspired by the 1983 James Bond film 'Octopussy', in which a jewel-smuggling operation involving a fake Fabergé egg is central to the plot.
According to the store's description, only 50 of these pendants were made. The 8.4-centimetre tall piece is crafted from gold, painted with green enamel, and encrusted with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. The egg opens to reveal its surprise: "an 18ct yellow gold octopus nestled inside, adorned with white diamond suckers and black diamond eyes", paying homage to the film's antagonist.
Police Await 'Nature to Take Its Course'
As of Wednesday, December 3, the valuable pendant had not been recovered. Inspector Grae Anderson stated that the accused underwent a medical assessment after his arrest and is now under constant police monitoring.
"Given this man is in Police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred," Anderson explained. The situation leaves officers waiting for the natural digestive process to provide the evidence needed.
The case presents a bizarre fusion of high-value crime and cinematic imitation, leaving authorities with a patient watch-and-wait strategy as they seek to reclaim the swallowed treasure.
