The Hawks in the Eastern Cape said its serious organised crime investigation team seized multiple cell phones they believe are connected to kidnappings following a raid at St Albans Correctional Centre in Gqeberha.
In a statement on Thursday, the Hawks said their “dedicated officers worked tirelessly, connecting the dots in a string of abductions around East London, including recent kidnapping incidents.”
Spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Avele Fumba said the team, working with correctional officers, conducted an intelligence-driven operation at the prison in the early hours of Thursday morning.
“During the operation, the joint team uncovered multiple cell phones that are suspected to be linked to the kidnapping cases.
“This breakthrough strengthens the ongoing investigation, and further arrests are imminent,” Fumba said.
He said the Hawks were also appealing to families of kidnapped individuals to cooperate fully with law enforcement “rather than bypassing official processes”.
Fumba said while the panic is understandable, engaging with kidnappers directly can be dangerous and may compromise police operations aimed at rescuing victims safely.
“Let’s work together our expertise, combined with public cooperation, is the key to dismantling these criminal networks,” he said.
