Wynberg drug lord arrested for abduction

JOHANNESBURG - An alleged drug lord was arrested in Wynberg, Cape Town for allegedly abducting a 40-year-old man, police said on Wednesday.

Captain André Venter said Farouk Kamaldien, allegedly a well-known criminal in the area, was arrested with an accomplice at his house in Ebor road, Wynberg on Tuesday.

Venter said Farouk and two other men abducted a man of about 40 after a confrontation on Tuesday.

"His abductors took him to a nearby street in Ebor road, Wynberg where they put him into a manhole in the back of the yard with a couch placed on top of it," he said.

The police were called after he had been in the manhole for about four hours. Farouk and one of his accomplices were arrested, while the other man got away.

"We are expecting to make another arrest soon," Venter said.

Farouk and his accomplice were charged with abduction and attempted murder. Venter said Farouk was on out on bail while awaiting trial for several other crimes, allegedly also involving dealing in drugs.

They were expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

- Sapa