AKS cops raid homes

Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad continued the search yesterday for kidnapped businessman Peter De Freitas, the owner of Flick Insecticides.

AKS officers raided several homes in East, Central and South in a bid to rescue the businessman and several suspects were detained for questioning. The suspects were released. AKS officers said that kidnappers continue to demand $3 million for the safe return of De Freitas. All the calls to the Valsayn home of De Freitas came from public phone booths in Port-of-Spain, and investigators were unable to trace any of the calls thus far. Investigators said that they are working along certain lines and expect to make a breakthrough in the investigation. AKS officers re-vealed that several other suspects in the kidnapping will be quizzed shortly.

De Freitas was kidnapped early Satur-day while in the company of a friend at Ariapita Avenue, Wood-brook. Emille Ali, 25, who was also kidnapped with De Freitas was released at the Caroni Cremation Site around 4 am on Saturday. Ali told Caroni Police that he went to make a deposit at the Wood-brook branch of Republic Bank in company with De Freitas, when they were confronted by four masked men armed with guns. They were both robbed and bundled into a car. He claimed that they were blindfolded and he was dropped off at the Caroni Cremation Site. Friends of the kidnapped victim gathered to give support to the worried relatives.