Venezuelans join hunt for kidnapped businessman

PEOPLE from the Venezuelan Army reportedly came into this country “clandestinely” over the holiday weekend to conduct negotiations on behalf of kidnap Venezuelan businessman, Jose Jesus Bomparte Cipriani, police said. The people from the Venezuelan Army are reported to be relatives of Cipriani, who remained unaccounted for up to late evening although $300,000 have been paid to the kidnappers who snatched and held him by three armed men on the night of June 12 from a house at Darcy Road, Boissierre No 2, Maraval. Police said Cipriani is still being held captive because the kidnappers want to “sock the well” — to see how much money they can get. The $300,000 was dropped off Thursday night in the Malick, Barataria, area, unknowing to local cops, who said they are working along certain lines as the investigations continue by members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) officers as well as St Clair Police. Initially, the kidnappers had requested US$150,000 and 15 kilogrammes of cocaine for the Venezuelan’s safe release, but police sources said relatives of the non-national have insisted that Cipriani is not involved in drugs.  He reportedly is involved in the shrimp business.

AKS sources also said they are not getting “full corporation” from relatives of the kidnapped 60-year-old man.  Police also said that relatives did not want police involvement in the first place, and that the initial ransom demand was also unknown to them. Police have also said that there are Venezuelan nationals who come into the country as “cover businessmen” to conduct illegal transactions in this country. More often than not, police said, these “cover businessmen” are kidnapped for cash and drugs. The ransom demand is usually paid without the knowledge of local police. Investigations are continuing.