Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) believes that the number of kidnappings in Maputo city is on the decline, since only four cases were recorded over the last five months of this year, compared to eight in the same period of 2024.
Since the first case of kidnappings was reported 12 years ago in Mozambique, 100 businesspeople, most of them of Asian origin, have left the country. According to the Strategic Analysis Report (RAE), published by the Mozambican Financial Intelligence Office (GIFiM), the wave of kidnappings has generated, since 2014, over 33 million dollars in money laundering (in the form of ransom payments).
According to SERNIC spokesperson João Adriano, who was speaking to reporters on Wednesday, in Maputo, although there have been arrests as part of the investigations, the exact number has not been revealed, so as not to jeopardize the course of the investigations and avoid compromising the identification of other criminals involved in the cases.
“We have recorded four kidnappings in the city of Maputo and the work that has been done so far has culminated in some arrests. We would like not to share the specific number”, he said. “The authorities are continuing their efforts to neutralize the criminal networks involved in this type of crime and to clarify other associated cases”.
Adriano believes that the drop in the number of kidnappings is a result of a reinforcement of joint operations between SERNIC and other defense and security forces.
“We feel that this year there has been a reduction compared to last year. Kidnapping cases in Maputo city are tending to fall and, as we can see, even this latest case was cleared up immediately”, he said. He was referring to the kidnapping of an eight year old girl in May.
“The victim has already been rescued and is now with her family”, said Adriano. “Fortunately, the child was found in good health, although she was weak because during all those hours she had no access to water or any food. However, after the rescue, the family did their work to restore the child’s physical and emotional condition”, he said.
In connection with the case, one of the family’s former drivers, was detained in possession of a pistol. “We have to be careful with the people we work with, the people who work in our homes. You have to evaluate their conduct, you have to know what you share and what you don’t share with them”, he added.
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