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Five suspects have been arrested after an intelligence-driven operation led to police foiling a kidnapping plot.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said the suspects include two South Africans, two Ugandans, and a Malawian national.
She said police received a tip-off about a South African woman who was planning the kidnapping of her or her employer for ransom.
“Through intelligence tactics and working closely with the target who was supposed to be kidnapped, a mock kidnapping was planned.
“The SAPS reserves the right not to go into detail on how the operation was executed as this would expose how intelligence-driven operations are conducted,” she said.
Mathe said the five suspects face charges of conspiracy to kidnap and extortion.
Three vehicles, including a Range Rover, and ten cell phones were seized.
National commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, said “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.
General Masemola also noted that the operation would not have been successful without the assistance of other stakeholders including private security and EMPD.
