Melrose Arch kidnapping foiled by intelligence-driven operation
Melrose Arch sets the scene of an intelligence collaboration to take down a kidnapping ring.
Five suspects are behind bars after a kidnapping attempt was foiled in Melrose Arch on August 23.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) stated a woman was planning to have her employer kidnapped and forced to withdraw large sums of money from her business bank account. Crime intelligence and organised crime operatives have been investigating the matter and decided to follow through with a ‘mock kidnapping’ in order to apprehend the suspects.
The ‘mock kidnapping’ was planned with the help of intelligence tactics and close collaboration with the target.
SAPS confirmed that following this successful ‘mock kidnapping’ five suspects were arrested while planning to withdraw the money that had been transferred.
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The five suspects were placed under arrest for conspiracy to kidnap and for extortion. Three vehicles were seized including a Range Rover, a Toyota Ayga and a white Polo Vivo. Ten cell phones were also confiscated.
The SAPS’s national commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has applauded the work of the intelligence and organised crime unit in carefully and precisely executing a seamless operation to ensure the target’s life was not jeopardised.
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“This was a sensitive operation but through the experience and skill set of our organised crime and intelligence team, we have managed to break the back of this syndicate. We do believe we have foiled many other kidnappings through the takedown of this syndicate. Investigations are continuing to determine if they can be linked to other kidnappings, especially for ransom”, said Gen Masemola.
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