The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) has revealed that it has identified the masterminds of the kidnappings that have plagued the country’s business community. According to Hilário Lole, SERNIC’s spokesman in Maputo, the masterminds are three Mozambican citizens who live in South Africa. This information was reiterated by the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, during the recent report on the general state of the nation, held this Wednesday (7).
President Nyusi emphasised that “once identified, action against them can change the narrative and the climate of fear”, stressing the importance of capturing and holding these individuals accountable.
The government has already called in INTERPOL to assist in their capture and extradition to Mozambique.
Hilário Lole explained that, in order to arrest the suspects, the authorities are working in close coordination with the International Police (INTERPOL). “These are individuals we have already identified. International arrest warrants have already been issued because we have information that they are in South African territory. Work is being done with the forces of that country, in close coordination with INTERPOL, to facilitate their neutralisation and subsequent accountability on Mozambican territory,” he said.
In addition, the police are on the trail of four armed individuals who kidnapped a 24-year-old man in broad daylight in the centre of Maputo on Monday (5). The victim is the son of an Asian businessman. Eyewitnesses reported that the victim was forced into the kidnappers’ car in the early hours of the morning, near the Hotel Términus.
“The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) revealed that around 150 businesspeople have been kidnapped in the last 12 years, with more than a hundred of them leaving the country due to fear”
Recently, the President of the Muslim Community of Mozambican, Salim Omar, said that businesspeople of Asian origin no longer trust the police, as they continue to be threatened by their tormentors. He also mentioned that more than 100 businesspeople and their families have left the country due to the kidnappings that have been affecting Mozambican cities for 12 years.
According to the Strategic Analysis Report (RAE) published by Mozambique’s Financial Intelligence Office (GIFiM), a specialised unit of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the wave of kidnappings in the country has generated more than 2 billion meticals in money laundering since 2014.
The document reveals that this money was hidden in various accounts held by the suspects, their close relatives and companies controlled by them, followed by the illicit export of capital under various pretexts with the aim of concealing its criminal origin.
The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) revealed that around 150 businesspeople have been kidnapped in the last 12 years, with more than a hundred of them leaving the country due to fear. The CTA demanded more effective measures from the government to tackle this problem, which has a significant impact on the economy and employment.
As of March this year, the police have registered a total of 185 cases of kidnapping and arrested at least 288 people for their involvement in these crimes since 2011. President Nyusi recognised that combating kidnappings remains a challenge and asked the police to “bring the masterminds to light”.
