Lubango - A total of 7 criminals, aged between 27 and 39, from Luanda, Huambo, Cunene, Namibe and Huíla, who planned a robbery, followed by the kidnapping of a Chinese businessman, in Lubango, southern province of Huíla, were arrested by agents from the Department of Criminal Investigation (DIIP).
The criminal association was arrested during a three-day investigation.
When speaking about the matter to the press, the head of DIIP-Huíla, Pedro Cassoma Mendes, stated that the young man from Cunene, leader of the group, has been in Huíla for two weeks to survey citizens who could be victims of robberies, with preference being a Chinese businesspeople, owner of several enterprises.
He added that after identifying the Chinese citizen, he called three accomplices from Luanda who had a firearm, which had already been seized, as well as the remaining three from Huambo, Namibe and Huíla, the latter being the driver.
He declared that the group included an Angolan resident in Namibia for 10 years, who came specifically for such an action.
“They had the strategy in the early hours of Tuesday, the 22nd, to go to the Chinese man’s residence, in the 14 de Abril neighborhood, where they broke down the door, tied up the victim, and then took the safe that was in the house, as well as a vehicle (...)”, he stated.
He pointed out that since September there has been a tendency for some groups of criminals to migrate to Huíla to carry out robberies, but they have not been successful.
He made it known that the group was formed a year ago and this is the first time that they have attempted to carry out robberies in Huíla, and have already carried out robberies in Luanda, Huambo and Benguela.
MS/MS/CF/jmc