Police ready to crack kidnap cartel

INTELLIGENCE gathered by the Anti-kidnapping Sqaud has revealed that a well organised group in the underworld has established kidnapping as a lucrative business, National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee revealed on Saturday night.

However, he said, this kidnapping cartel is not likely to survive long because the country’s armed forces have enough evidence to crack down on the ring leaders. Chin Lee said his biggest concern is that when the ringleaders do get captured, they are likely to walk free if the Anti-Kidnapping Bill,  which is currently before Parliament, is not passed. Chin Lee, who was speaking at a People’s National Movement public meeting in Princes Town, added: “Police are aware that certain people are the kingpins. It’s now a crime business where on a cost benefit analysis, people have migrated towards kidnapping.”

Asked if he believe those guilty of committing this crime were part of an underground movement in the country, the Minister said intelligence had reached the security forces of the extent to which the kidnappers were organised. He said based on police information, those arrested and charged with kidnapping are often repeat offenders. “That is why we need to have the Bill (Anti-Kidnapping) passed to deny them bail,” Chin Lee said. Chin Lee is convinced the crime could be eradicated with legislation which contains stiffer penalities, including no bail.