A 39-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Portuguese businessman Mark Ramos.
Suspect arrested in Mark Ramos kidnapping is part of a syndicate
Ramos, who was abducted from his business premises in Florida on 24 June 2024, was rescued by SAPS’s anti-kidnapping task team on Monday, 1 July 2024.
The rescue operation took place in Snake Park, Soweto, where Ramos had been held captive.
The SAPS anti-kidnapping task team, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and private security firms, worked tirelessly to locate and rescue Ramos.
The team successfully tracked him down to a house in Soweto, ensuring his safety and well-being. During the operation, one of the captors was apprehended in Turfontein, Johannesburg.
The arrested suspect, believed to be a member of a sophisticated syndicate, was out on bail for previous kidnapping charges.
This syndicate is suspected to be behind at least four other abductions involving businessmen in the Johannesburg District.
The SAPS anti-kidnapping task team is currently pursuing additional suspects linked to this network, with more arrests expected in the coming days.
In the past six months, the SAPS anti-kidnapping task team has successfully rescued 12 businessmen and six students who were kidnapped for ransom.