A 43-year-old man was rescued following an intelligence-driven operation led by Johannesburg District Commissioner Major General Nhlanhla Kubheka, in collaboration with various police units, on January 17.

The man was kidnapped on January 9 while travelling with his wife from work towards Booysens when four armed men driving a Toyota Quantum approached them, forcing the man into the Quantum, which drove off, leaving the wife, who acted swiftly and called the police.

A case of kidnapping was opened at Kliptown Police Station, and then a hunt for the victim began.

Following the kidnapping, the family started receiving ransom demands, and it was established that several withdrawals were made from the victim’s bank account.

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Through intelligence methodologies and technology, the kidnappers’ cellphones were traced, and it was established that they operate in the Jeppe, Nancefield and Mzimhlophe hostels.

A successful arrest of four suspects was made at Jeppe hostel; the suspects were linked to two more kidnapping cases opened last year at Jeppe and Diepsloot.

The arrest led to four more arrests; three in Diepsloot and one in Orlando, found with an unlicensed firearm.

The victim has since been released from Mzimhlophe hostel, where he was kept and has been reunited with his family.

The suspects appeared before Lenasia Court on January 19 on the charge of kidnapping and extortion.