Ultra rich families in Maputo targeted by kidnappers for millions

NELSPRUIT – Ultrarich families in Maputo have been targeted by kidnappers and forced to pay millions of US$ in ransom demands.

This has come to light as many wealthy Mozambican families seek asylum in the capital.

A local estate agent told Lowvelder that there had been an influx of families relocating to the city because of its close proximity to Maputo. He said most wealthy families were now moving their wives and children to Nelspruit.

The husbands do business in Maputo during the week and join their families at weekends.

Mr Arnaldo Chefo, Maputo city police spokesman, said the main obstacle in combating these crimes, was the lack of cooperation from the families of the victims.

Mozambican journalist Mr William Mapote said wealthy families’ spouses or children are kidnapped in Maputo and in other cities in the country. He said the abductors demand ransoms ranging from $300 000 to $500 000.

“We had a case in which a family paid two million US$ to get a relative back alive.”

Chefo said this was where the problem began as in most cases the payment of ransom took place without police involvement or without their being informed at all.

He said families did not want the police involved with the exchange of money.

According to Mapote, this year there were six such cases in Maputo, and the majority of families involved were from the Indian community.

He said last year abductions occurred almost weekly.

Another source who cannot be identified, told Lowvelder that Mozambican police apparently suspected the syndicates were tipped off by banking officials who told them who the wealthy families were.

Mapote said police had made arrests but that the masterminds behind the operations were still unknown.

He also claimed that it was difficult to get victims or their families to come forward as they were threatened with their lives by the abductors if they reported the cases.

“To date no one has been killed.”

He also claimed that once ransoms were paid and victims released, the families would out of fear – not pursue the issue further.

Mapote concluded that no tourists or foreigners in Mozambique had been targeted.

According to the latest reports on kidnapping worldwide, anyone may be abducted or have a member of the family taken. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to deal with kidnappers or how to survive the ordeal if they themselves are kidnapped or taken hostage.

The report states that there are simple procedure for dealing with the culprits – forget everything you’ve ever seen in the movies and go to the authorities for help. In real life, they know how to deal with kidnappers and can track them down.

According to the report, most of the time the authorities can get the victim back, but it is only possible to do so if the families contact them right away at the first sign of trouble.

The report concluded that a person in his own country should contact the local police, but if in a foreign country, his nearest embassy.