Police said the network was uncovered after an intelligence-driven team followed leads in the wake of the kidnapping of an Indian man earlier this month
Authorities in Gauteng on Thursday swooped in on what is believed to be a kidnapping syndicate at a house in Kliprivier.
Police said the network was uncovered after an intelligence-driven team followed team followed leads in the wake of the kidnapping of an Indian man earlier this month.
Investigations involving the Hawks led officials to a house where five men were arrested.
Foreign military uniforms, several firearms including rifles and pistols (some of which were buried in the garden on the same the property) were recovered by the investigation team.
Some of the guns included two AK-47 rifles, one Uzzi sub-machine gun, and two pump-action shotguns.
A kidnapping charge has been faced by the three of the suspects, while the other two were nabbed for being in possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition.
It is understood that the owner of the house was on the run.
General Khehla Sitole, the National Police Commissioner said in a statement:
“This is great work, but the job is not done yet.
We must continue with our efforts to trace and arrest the owner of the house and anybody else linked to this group, but more importantly we must find and reunite the kidnapped victim safely with his family.”
