The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) General Fannie Masemola says police are ushering in a season of heightened police visibility to prevent and combat any form of criminality taking place within South African shores.
With the busy festive season upon us, police officers countrywide are intensifying crime combatting operations to ensure that all people on our shores are and feel safe.
Friday’s arrest of an Indian national is but one of the SAPS successes to ensure that police officers squeeze the space for criminals to operate.
The 55-year-old man was apprehended during a sting operation led by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of a variety of experts within the SAPS, in collaboration with private security.
The team consisting of the SAPS Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, Crime Intelligence, Organised Crime, K9 and JMPD had been following up on information that a minor would be kidnapped and a hefty ransom be demanded.
The team immediately operationalised the information and moved in to arrest the man at a restaurant where a planning meeting was held to discuss the execution of the kidnapping.
The team moved in swiftly to arrest the man who led the team to a number of properties where two unlicensed and one licensed firearm was recovered.
A farm that was alleged to be used as a safe house to keep the minor was also identified and searched.
Cellphones, SIM cards, laptops, false identity documents, a variety of ammunition and a white Range Rover were also seized.
The family of the minor are receiving the necessary support. The suspect faces a charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and extortion.
The National Commissioner says to date police have arrested 116 suspects who have been involved in kidnappings for ransom.
“Police are determined and will continue to work hard to prevent and combat kidnappings and all other forms of criminality.
This arrest should serves as a deterrent to those involved in kidnapping cases where ransom demands are being made”, said General Fannie Masemola.
While the SAPS safer festive season operation is being rolled out in each province and police are intensifying operations, the SAPS advises members of the public to be extra vigilant of their surroundings and to share information with SAPS timeously to Crime Stop on 08600 10111 to avert these types of incidents from occurring.
