Kidnapping ring busted in Johannesburg: Eight suspects arrested, victim freed
Eight suspected kidnappers have been arrested, and a 43-year-old man was safely reunited with his family following an intelligence-driven operation led by the Johannesburg District Commissioner, Major General Nhlanhla Kubheka.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi says the victim was abducted on January 9 while travelling with his wife from work towards Booysens.
“The victim was forced into the suspects’ vehicle before it sped off, leaving the wife, who contacted the police,” Nevhuhulwi said.
A kidnapping case was immediately registered at Kliptown Police Station, and resources were mobilised to trace and locate him.
Police revealed that the family soon began receiving ransom demands and that “several withdrawals have been made from the victim’s bank account.”
Investigators used intelligence methodologies and technology to trace the suspects’ cellphones and established that the group operated from Jeppe Hostel, Nancefield Hostel and Mzimhlophe Hostel in Soweto.
On January 17, police acted on the information.
“The team promptly operationalised the information and four suspects were traced and arrested at Jeppe Hostel,” Nevhuhulwi said.
Further investigations linked those suspects to two additional kidnapping cases opened last year in Jeppe and Diepsloot.
This led to the arrest of four more suspects, three in Diepsloot and one in Orlando, where a suspect was found with an unlicensed firearm.
“The victim was released from Mzihlophe Hostel where he was kept and has been reunited with his family,” Nevhuhulwi confirmed.
All eight suspects are expected to appear before the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 January, on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
The operation involved multiple specialised units.
“Police units involved in this operation include SAPS Crime Intelligence, Anti-Kidnapping Team, Johannesburg Hostage Negotiator, Technical Response Team, Special Task Force, K9, Flying Squad, Kliptown detectives and private security,” Nevhuhulwi said.
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