Two kidnap victims rescued

Two mothers, whose sons were kidnapped in two separate incidents over the past week, got their Mother’s Day wish early yesterday, when their sons were rescued by officers of the Anti Kidnapping Squad. One victim was found in a marijuana field while the other was rescued from a makeshift camp. The first rescue took place around 3 am yesterday, when AKS officers led by ASP Joseph and Sgt Issac surrounded a marijuana field at Celestine Trace, Maraval, where they saw kidnap victim Rondel Lord, 25, tied up in a make- shift camp.Lord said that he was not beaten and thanked the AKS officers for rescuing him.He was reunited with his wife Elizabeth De Silva, two-year old daughter and mother Jacqueline.

Lord was not harmed in any way. AKS sources told Sunday Newsday that after Lord was snatched outside his Silver Terrace, Maraval home around 4 am on Friday, kidnappers called his wife Elizabeth and demanded a ransom of $100,000. The kidnappers then allowed him to speak to his wife. He begged her not to alert the police through fear of being killed. AKS officers set up a sting operation and the money was supposed to be delivered by Elizabeth to kidnappers at 11 am on Friday. The time was then changed to 1 pm. AKS officers went to a location in Maraval where they were involved in a high speed chase with the suspects. Two men ages 25 and 23 were arrested by the police and taken to the Port-of-Spain CID where they were detained and quizzed.

The suspects gave the AKS officers the key information which led them to the marijuana camp where Lord was being kept. Sunday Newsday learned that Lord recently purchased a Honda Civic car and was seen with some cash. This is believed to have led to his abduction. He was not at his Maraval home yesterday and is reportedly staying with relatives. The same officers went into action one hour later by walking one mile into a forested area at Pipiol Road  Santa Cruz, in an area known as Rock River. In a make-shift camp they saw kidnap victim Simon Persaud,18, dressed in a jersey and short pants. When the officers surrounded the camp they were greeted by rapid gunfire. A 41-year-old man who is a suspect in the kidnapping of 17-year-old Chase Village teenager Joel Ragoo, was shot in the chest. He was later found hiding out at his Santa Cruz home. He was arrested and taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated and warded under police guard.

The rescued kidnap victim appeared disoriented when he was rescued by AKS officers. Officers had to convince Persaud that they were the police and not kidnappers who had come to harm him. He said that he was fed Crix biscuits and was kept at two other locations before taken to the makeshift camp in Santa Cruz. Persaud was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated and re-united with his mother Marguerite. When Sunday Newsday visited the home of Persaud a relative said that the family was not willing to be interviewed until Monday. Friends of the rescued schoolboy were seen entering the gate leading to his Diego Martin home. Involved in the two rescue operations were Cpl Aguilal, and PCs Ramsook, WPC Gustav, Williams, Robertson, Ghany, Seepersad, Matas and Dick.