Durban kidnapping syndicate: 7 expected in court

Seven suspects will appear in a Kokstad court in KZN, following their alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate that demanded a ransom from the victim’s family.

Their arrests follow an incident on September 30, when a 46-year-old Chinese national woman was kidnapped from her bottle store in Kokstad. The kidnappers, a syndicate operating between Durban and Port Shepstone, held the victim hostage and initially demanded a ransom of R15m.

Following intense negotiations, the ransom was reduced to R305 000, which the victim’s family reportedly paid into a designated bank account.

More money demanded

“However, after receiving the ransom, the kidnappers refused to release the victim and demanded an additional R1.2m. When negotiations reached a deadlock, a decision was made to initiate a rescue operation to safely retrieve the victim,” explained Durban Metro Police Service spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu.

A multidisciplinary task force was formed, comprising Durban Metro Police’s Drug Team, Counter Narcotics units, and additional specialised law enforcement teams.

“Following leads and video surveillance, the team was able to identify and apprehend multiple suspects. Two female suspects were captured on video withdrawing the ransom from a bank in Durban CBD. One of the females was apprehended as she attempted to flee to another province. Two male suspects (one South African, one Zimbabwean) were arrested in Pinetown’s Paradise Valley; these suspects were involved in co-ordinating the syndicate’s operations. The Zimbabwean national played a key role in communications, using a Malawian cell number to contact the victim’s family,” said Zungu.

More arrests

Three more alleged kingpins were located and arrested in Port Shepstone; these individuals were identified as the alleged main organisers of the kidnapping.

Police also arrested one guard, allegedly responsible for watching the victim, who was reportedly found disoriented but physically unharmed in a shack. “She was immediately taken to a hospital in Port Shepstone for medical evaluation.”

Police added that through continuous operations from Monday to Friday, the task force successfully arrested a total of eight suspects, recovered valuable exhibits (including cellphones and vehicles used in the crime), and rescued the victim.

One suspect appeared in the Kokstad magistrate’s court on Friday and was remanded into custody until November 22 for a bail hearing. The remaining suspects will appear in court tomorrow allowing for further investigations and efforts to apprehend additional syndicate members.