Eastern Cape Police have dismantled a kidnapping ring. According to the authorities, this was done in just 10 days, following 2 separate kidnappings in that province. Police officers also managed to free the 2 women, who were abducted.
Eastern Cape Police dismantled a kidnapping ring
During the operations, to free the victims, the Police managed to confiscate 3 stolen vehicles and 3 unlicensed firearms. Several arrests were carried out and some alleged kidnappers were fatally wounded in a shootout with officers.
Mene has commended the team, “This was a collaboration between the Hawks and other specialized units that worked tirelessly to ensure that at the end we have positive results.”
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene says a task team comprising of Crime Intelligence (CI), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), the Provincial Tracing Team, Hostage Negotiators (HNT), National Intervention Unit (NIU) and the Tactical Response Team (TRT) had been assigned to work on the 2 abduction cases.
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Two Abductions
He says the first kidnapping saw a 34-year-old woman (a Chinese National) taken on the road between Barkly East and Elliot. She was driving in a Mercedes Benz Vito which was hijacked and she was kidnapped.
Lt Gen Mene elaborated, “We are indeed pleased with the outcomes, which we hope will deter those who want to embark in similar criminal activities in the future.”
A scant 3 days later, on Friday 20 September, a 39-year-old woman from Cape Town, also underway in a vehicle was hijacked and abducted near Mthatha.
Officers report that the vehicle she was travelling in, was found abandoned outside Mthatha.
Special Forces Collaboration
As the simultaneous probe progressed, intelligence gathered during the investigation lead the Members of the Special Task Team to a house in Qoboqobo. The town was formerly known as Keiskammahoek. During a shootout with officers, 4 suspects were fatally shot while 1 other was wounded. According to a Police statement, a couple who were traveling in a white Toyota Rumion was intercepted and stopped near Cradock, on Wednesday, 25 September. They were taken into custody for being in possession of a stolen vehicle.
Vehicle stolen in the Western Cape
A preliminary probe found that the vehicle has been stolen in the Western Cape. Officers also linked the suspected thieves, to the kidnapping syndicate. The duo face charges of possession of stolen property, as well as kidnapping.
Mene added, that the pressure from the negotiating team, on Thursday, 26 September, led the syndicate to release the 2 victims near Sulenkama. The women were unharmed. No ransom was paid. The investigation is continuing. There is a possibility of more arrests or recoveries. At this stage, the Police are still searching for the stolen Mercedes Benz Vito.
