Sernic detains alleged kidnappers

Maputo, 19 Feb (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) has detained two men allegedly involved in 15 kidnappings in Maputo and the neighbouring city of Matola.

Sernic spokesperson Hilario Lole presented the two detainees to reporters in Maputo on Wednesday. He did not name them but said that one was the operational leader of a gang of ten members, including two South Africans.

“These are individuals with an enormous criminal history”, said Lole. “They have carried out 15 kidnappings and aggravated robbery with the use of firearms”.

“One of the detainees”, he added, “has confessed that he is the leader of a vast group of people who undertake kidnappings”.

Lole said the gang entered Mozambique from South Africa with a plan to kidnap a Maputo businessman, the owner of the company Ferragem Choupal, and to rob a cash transport vehicle. Sernic, however, discovered and aborted this scheme.

Lole said that the kidnap gang clashed with Sernic and other police units on 12 February, and in this clash two of the kidnappers were shot dead.

Lole said the criminals opened fire first. “Our operatives were surprised by shots fired by the kidnappers”, he said. “Acting in legitimate self-defence, they shot two of the kidnappers, who died on the spot”.

Lole promised that Sernic will continue to support victims hit by stray bullets during this operation, and urged members of the public to provide the authorities with information that might help in the fight against kidnappings and other forms of organised crime.

Lole claimed that the detention of the two alleged kidnappers “is a significant gain for the country in the efforts to halt the kidnappings”. He said measures are now under way to locate the other members of the gang.
(AIM)
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