Through calls to friends and relatives, Dr. Mark located Durant in Texas—and advised him he was wanted by the Customs people for questioning. On April 19, 1946, Durant appeared at the office of the Supervising Customs Agent in Chicago with the air of an innocent man who was shocked that anyone should question his integrity.
“You did bring diamonds into the country without declaring them and without paying duty on them, didn’t you, Colonel?” an agent asked.
“Yes,” Durant said, “but I was doing only what everybody else in the armed services was doing. I didn’t know a declaration was required.”
“Where did you get the diamonds?”
“I bought them from a German civilian. I gave him my Elgin wrist watch and 3,000 German marks.”
The agent said, “How did you get them into the country?”
“I put them in a cigar box and mailed the box to myself in care of my brother in Falls Church,” Durant replied.
“Where are the diamonds now?”
Durant reached into his pocket and pulled out the sack of diamonds. “There they are,” he said, tossing the sack onto the desk. “That’s all of them.”
“We’re going to have to hold these diamonds until our investigation is completed, Colonel,” an agent said. “But of course you have the right under law to petition for a return of the diamonds and for remission or mitigation of any penalties.”