“We want to confirm the arrest of two national citizens, aged between 30 and 46 years,” stated João Adriano, the spokesperson for Sernic in Maputo, during a press conference, presenting the two suspects to the journalists.
This relates to the abduction of a 69-year-old Portuguese businessman, who also holds Mozambican nationality, in downtown Maputo, in front of his commercial establishment, by a group in a white vehicle without a license plate. This is the first publicized case of its kind since June.
The spokesperson assured that the investigation is progressing “at a brisk pace” towards solving the crime and emphasized that the “greatest need” now is to reunite the victim with his family: “Based on the results obtained, we are confident that shortly we will invite the press to address the situation regarding the location.”
According to João Adriano, the suspects, part of a group of eight involved in the kidnapping, were arrested along National Road 4 (N4), in Moamba district, Maputo province, southern Mozambique, while traveling in one of the vehicles used during the crime.
“These individuals were caught red-handed, transporting the vehicle to South Africa. Our understanding is undoubtedly that they wanted to destroy the evidence and thus complicate the investigation,” he explained, adding that the second vehicle used in the crime is also in the neighboring country.
Adriano also noted that the license plate used during the abduction was found inside the vehicle: “On that day, this vehicle displayed a certain national license plate, and that plate was found inside that vehicle.”
With the two suspects detained, the Mozambican police are working to capture the remaining accomplices, with one already identified and under an arrest warrant.
“We have the identification [of the suspect], we cannot disclose it here, but Sernic is working to locate him and soon he will be brought here for everyone’s knowledge and presumably, to face legal proceedings,” he said.
Mozambican Interior Minister Paulo Chachine assured on October 22 that there is a “very intense and profound” investigation into the kidnapping of the Portuguese citizen, marking the sixth abduction this year.
“The investigation is underway; it is a process. A very intense and deep work is being carried out by the Polícia da República de Moçambique [PRM] and the National Criminal Investigation Service to clarify this case,” said Paulo Chachine on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of new PRM commissioner officers in Maputo.
The Mozambican government said on the same day, October 7, that it had been informed of the businessman’s abduction and was awaiting the security forces’ action but highlighted progress in controlling such crimes in the country.
This is the first publicly known incident since June 21, when a Lebanese citizen, the owner of a pharmacy, was kidnapped at the establishment in central Maputo.
From 2011 to March 2024, Mozambican police recorded a total of 185 kidnappings and at least 288 people detained for suspected involvement in such crimes, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Interior.
