SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE - CRIME INTELLIGENCE NATIONAL KIDNAPPING TASK TEAM’S MIDNIGHT TAKE DOWN OPERATION TAKES DOWN SA’S BIGGEST KIDNAPPING SYNDICATE.

During a midnight take down operation on Thursday 17 March 2022, the multidisciplinary team, headed by the Anti- Kidnapping Task Team, simultaneously pounced on identified addresses. At the first address in Lawley, police found and rescued the victim, seized firearms and arrested suspects.

Ahmed Ebrahim Illias the driver of a suspected involved vehicle was arrested. He attested to his involvement and allegations of kidnapping including incidents relating to extortion. Illias was also instrumental in targeting a cigarette dealers who was recently kidnapped.

At the other addresses in Lenasia, the team arrested more suspects which include a 43- year-old Mozambican national identified as Faizel Charloos, believed to be the mastermind behind a number of kidnapping cases in Gauteng.

The specialised task force investigators believe the syndicate which Charloos is alleged to be part of impersonated police officers by using vehicles with blue lights and allegedly kidnapped residents from Lenasia. During the raid the police also found millions in cash, foreign currency in cash‚ hijacked vehicles, firearms and so much more that it took members of the Hawks and SAPS national investigative unit over eighteen hours to process.

His spouse at this house, Sadiyya Charloos was also arrested at the scene and is suspected to be heavily involved in the kidnapping. Her links to members from the local police and Community police patrollers and forum is being investigated.

Charloos was also charged for murder after investigations linking him to the disappearance of Zain Khan who was 

kidnapped by suspects who were impersonating police. Weeks after Khan’s kidnapping, investigators used the revolutionary DNA laboratory techniques that established a link between biological evidence and the deceased victim in a murder investigation.

Investigations led the Task Team to another residential property, where eight cars‚ including a Mercedes Benz G65 and Porsche 911 Turbo‚ worth just over R22 - million were discovered. While Charloos said the vehicles were not found in his premises, the female resident living in the luxury mansion is confirmed to be the second wife of Charloos.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) confirmed that their members will continue the investigations with the kidnapping task team to provide additional evidence of on going cases and 

related crimes linked to Charloos and further arrests are suspected.The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla Sitole has applauded the team’s persistent efforts.

“This success would not have been possible if it weren’t for the dedication and persistent efforts of members from crime intelligence, the national kidnapping task team, the special task force, organised crime unit, Gauteng flying squad and Gauteng saturation unit, Ekurhuleni metro police, JMPD, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. We also appreciate the assistance of private security who continue to be our eyes and ears,” he said.

In another unrelated kidnapping case, an intelligence-driven operation led to the rescue of four Bangladesh nationals in Betrams, Gauteng. The four were kidnapped on Thursday, 10 March 2022 in Musina, Limpopo. Two Ethiopian nationals have since been arrested.