A Chinese woman had a 6-carat diamond surgically removed from her intestines by Thai authorities, following suspicions that she swallowed it in order to smuggle the gem out of the country.

Jiang Sulian, 39, had swallowed the $300,000 diamond from the 56th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair at Impact Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi on Thursday, after she swapped the gem for a fake one, according to Bangkok Post.

It's believed the swap was made after she was asked to inspect the jewel.

The jewel was reported missing by an exhibitor, and upon later investigation, authorities found security footage showing her ingesting the gems, reported the BBC. 

She was found and arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, along with a male travelling companion. When confronted, she initially denied involvement, but an X-ray revealed the diamond residing inside her.

After being taken into custody, Jiang refused to eat anything and only drank water, police revealed.

She was first given laxatives but three days later still hadn't passed the stone. At that point, the diamond had moved from her stomach to her large intestine, forcing doctors to use a colonoscope to extract the gem Sunday, according to CNN.

While her companions charges are unknown, Jiang is being detained on a charge of theft and could face a three year jail sentence and a fine.