The EMPD confirmed that a man arrested yesterday following a raid at a Bedfordview property was one of the most wanted suspects in Ekurhuleni.
Also read: Two women rescued from Bedfordview property after alleged kidnapping in Elsburg
The arrest formed part of days of intense investigations by the EMPD Task Team.
Two women, who were allegedly kidnapped two weeks ago, were rescued from the house during the raid.
Stolen items including a police cap, a motorcycle and IT equipment, including a laptop belonging to the Gauteng provincial government, were found at the house.
At the premises police officers seized drugs such as mushrooms and a date rape drug, Liquid G. Officers also recovered a firearm and numerous rounds of ammunition.
The sting operation was then conducted leading to the arrest of the owner of the property and the alleged kingpin of the operation.
“This is a major breakthrough. We believe we may be on to something big here. We are following leads of human trafficking and drug dealing. We suspect that this suspect is part of a crime ring,” said MMC for Community Safety Pheladi Mmoko.
“The country is dealing with a scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) and kidnapping, and this we believe will lift the lead on similar activities in the region and beyond.”
Mmoko said the EMPD has intensified its war against GBV and kidnapping and that “we already know the hot spots be it in townships or affluent areas”.
Also read: Child kidnappings on the rise
“We know the modus operandi of these thugs and we also know who they are and we are going for them,” he said.
Investigations are underway to determine how the arrested suspect got out of prison after he was arrested six months ago.
