Ekurhuleni police rescue kidnapped women in Bedfordview
Police say they are following leads of human trafficking and drug dealing, and think that the arrested suspect is part of a crime ring.
Picture: iStock.
Ekurhuleni MMC for community safety, Pheladi Mmoko, says the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) has intensified its war against gender-based violence (GBV) and kidnapping.
This comes after two women were on Tuesday rescued from a property in Bedfordview after their alleged kidnapping in Elsburg two weeks ago, Bedfordview and Edenvale News reported.
The EMPD said during the rescue of the two women, a wanted suspect in Ekurhuleni was arrested.
Police also found stolen items including a police cap, a motorcycle and IT equipment, which included a laptop belonging to the Gauteng provincial government.
“The police also seized drugs such as the notorious ‘mushroom’ and Liquid G commonly known as the date-rape drug.”
A firearm and numerous rounds of ammunition were also recovered by the police.
“A sting operation was then conducted, leading to the arrest of the owner of the property and the alleged kingpin,” police said.
Mmoko said the operation was “a major breakthrough”, which she believed could lead to more arrests.
“We are following leads of human trafficking and drug dealing. We suspect that this suspect is part of a crime ring,” Mmoko said.
Mmoko said as the country grappled with the scourge of GBV and the kidnapping of women, the raid could lift the lid “on similar activities in the region and beyond”.
Mmoko said police had intensified their war against GBV and kidnapping.
“We already know the hotspots, be it in townships or affluent areas.”
“We know the modus operandi of these thugs and we also know who they are and we are going for them,” he said.
Mmoko indicated that the police were on the trail of several other suspects believed to be working with the arrested suspect.
The EMPD said it would also be engaging with their South African Police Service (SAPS) counterparts to determine how the arrested suspect got out of jail after he was arrested six months ago.
Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu
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