A law enforcement raid in Gauteng resulted in the rescue of a kidnapped businessman and the recovery of R300 million in drugs.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a spokesperson for the National South African Police Service (SAPS), said that eight kidnappers, including three Tanzanian nationals, were apprehended in the operation late on Wednesday.
Mathe reported that the man was taken outside a mosque in Helderkruin, Roodepoort, last month.
“He was rescued at a house in Lenasia on Wednesday. The SAPS anti- kidnapping task team has been working on the case and arrested the first two suspects last week,” Mathe said.
She stated that on Wednesday, following on intelligence, a multidisciplinary team went to a hotel in East Gate and two apartments in the Fourways area, arresting six individuals and seizing drugs worth approximately R300 million.
SAPS national commissioner General Fannie Masemola, deputy national commissioner for crime detection Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, and provincial SAPS commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni all attended the scene and praised the police officers’ efforts.
“Well done to the team. Our men and women in blue remain hard at work in taking down syndicates involved in dealing and the trafficking of drugs,” Masemola said.
“Commendable progress has been registered in recent weeks and we owe those successes to our dedicated police officers and our partners in crime including, private security. We will continue to come after those who are involved in the illicit trade of drug trafficking.”
On Thursday, Masemola is expected to give an update to the media on various projects and successes by police in recent weeks.