By Augustine Ehikioya
Cracking down on crimes, Police officials in South Africa have arrested an alleged kingpin who was wanted for kidnapping cases, which led to ransom payments in Mozambique.
The arrest was made at an upmarket estate in Centurion, Pretoria by a multidisciplinary team led by members of the Trilateral Planning Cell (TPC) and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
A statement issued by Brigadier Athlenda Mathe of the South African Police Service, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), has disclosed this.
It said “The TPC is a structure which was established and is led by the Ministers responsible for Policing in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania to counter transnational organized crime in the region.
“The team was acting on a warrant of arrest and an extradition request by the Government of Mozambique.
“On Saturday evening, the team also consisting of the Special Task Force (STF), Crime Intelligence and Organised Crime pounced on 50-year-old Esmael Malude Ramos Nangy at an identified address in Centurion where he was arrested.”
The statement said that items recovered from him included a 9mm licensed firearm, fourteen 9mm cartridges, five cellphones, multiple bank cards for South African banks as well as multiple SA and Mozambican sim cards.
The suspect, it said, will appear before the Randburg Magistrate’s court on Monday where extradition processes will immediately commence.