Last Friday, two foreign businessmen, one from Sweden and another from Ireland, were kidnapped by several men by a hotel. Shortly after the kidnapping, the State Police carried out an impressive operation involving Criminal Police employees and fighters from special task forces.
The Police has reason to believe that there may be other victims these persons have harmed.
Upon finding out about the kidnapping, detectives contacted the Omega counter-terrorism force, the VP Riga Region Department Special Forces Battalion as well as several employees of the Criminal Police.
The same day, the perpetrators were detained while the kidnapped businessmen were transported. All seven of the attackers were detained, and a police uniform, a bulletproof vest, a weapon and a falsified police licence was discovered upon searching the suspects.
The suspects had dressed up as policemen and imitated a police arrest by a hotel in Rīga by handcuffing the two businessmen and, threatening them with a weapon, forced them into their cars.
Investigators say that they had wanted to obtain a ransom, though the motive will be clarified during the investigation.
There are some well-known criminals among the suspects, and a number of them have been convicted for similar crimes. Five of them are held under arrest.
The group is facing sentences of three to twelve years with possible confiscation of property, plus possible probation for three years.
If you have suffered wrongdoings at the hands of these persons, please contact the state police at [email protected] or call 110.
