US Court Orders Return of $1 Billion 'Cursed' Bahia Emerald to Brazil

After decades of legal disputes, the 836-pound gemstone, smuggled out of Brazil in 2001, will be repatriated under a federal judge's ruling.

The Bahia Emerald, weighing 836 pounds and valued at up to $1 billion, is considered one of the largest emeralds ever discovered.
The gemstone was illegally mined in Brazil in 2001 and smuggled into the United States, where it became the subject of ownership disputes and criminal investigations.
A US District Judge ruled that the emerald must be returned to Brazil, enforcing a Brazilian court's forfeiture order under a legal cooperation treaty between the two nations.
The emerald's history includes rumors of criminal ties, survival through Hurricane Katrina, and being held in Los Angeles Sheriff's Department custody for over 15 years.
Brazil plans to display the emerald as a national treasure, marking the end of a 23-year-long legal and diplomatic battle.