10 Bangladeshi men rescued in Joburg, suspected foreign national kidnapping mastermind arrested
News24 – 21-02-2022
Ten foreign nationals were allegedly kidnapped on 26 January 2022 while travelling along the N1 from Musina in Limpopo.
- The alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of foreign nationals was arrested in Centurion during an intelligence-led operation.
- The arrest was in connection with the kidnapping of 10 Bangladeshi men in January.
- he men have been rescued from a lodge in Bruma, Johannesburg.
A 39-year-old Pakistani national who is believed to be the mastermind behind foreign national kidnappings, was arrested in Centurion, allegedly while calling the foreign nationals' families to demand ransom money.
Dilpazeer Azam was arrested on 6 February during an intelligence-led operation that included Crime Intelligence, Gauteng organised crime officers, Johannesburg's K9 Unit, the Gauteng hostage negotiating team, the Ekurhuleni police department's SWAT team, and private security companies.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Azam appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on 8 February 2022, where his case was transferred to the Polokwane Magistrate's Court.
Sketching the background, Netshiunda said 10 Bangladeshi men were travelling along the N1 from Musina on 26 January when the occupants of a vehicle stopped them.
"The victims were allegedly loaded into another vehicle and were transported to Polokwane where they were allegedly handed to the suspect near the Peter Mokaba Stadium," Netshiunda said.
He added that the investigating team received intelligence information which led them to a lodge in Bruma, Johannesburg, where the 10 men were rescued unharmed.
"Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspect was making calls to the families of the victims, demanding ransom."
Azam appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Thursday on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
The matter was postponed to 17 February for a bail application.