EXCLUSIVE | Interpol's most wanted among kidnappers arrested in Gauteng

JOHANNESBURG - Two of the 14 people linked to the kidnapping of a Sowetan gas tycoon are wanted in China. 

Eyewitness News can reveal that an Interpol Red Notice for the arrest of Liang Long and Ning Li was active at the time of their arrest on Monday.

They were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a Zimbabwean businessman who was grabbed outside his business premises in Soweto on Sunday. 

The victim is said to be a major gas distributor in Soweto. 

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Within 24 hours, the anti-kidnapping task team, together with private security and other roleplayers, were able to track down 10 of the accused at a complex in Greenstone Park, Edenvale, east of Johannesburg. 

Another accused, Cheng Hsu, and Li were among the accused found at the complex. 

Long, along with Li, are wanted by authorities in China, having evaded arrest since 2022.

Two other major roleplayers in the kidnapping were also arrested at the Greenstone Park complex - Mikyle Mahendra Pillay, a qualified engineer and tech wizard, and the alleged mastermind, Kenton Luke Khan.

Khan is facing a schedule five offence, having been found in possession of a semi-automatic firearm and ammunition. 

Leon Peterson, who together with another accused, were arrested outside the complex with wads of cash stuffed into bags, believed to be proceeds withdrawn from the victim's bank account. 

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said multiple speed point machines and a firearm stolen during a house robbery in Linden in 2023 were among other items recovered at the Edenvale scene. 

Further intelligence led the authorities to Sandton, where a vehicle used in the commission of the crime was intercepted. 

Two of the accused were arrested, with a firearm recovered in the vehicle. 

During their arrest, they allegedly confessed to their involvement in the kidnapping and identified a house in Diepkloof, Soweto, where the victim was being held. 

Authorities initiated a takedown operation, rescuing the victim and arresting two others. 

The 14 accused appeared in the Lenasia Magistrate's Court on Wednesday afternoon, facing separate charges of kidnapping, possession of unlicenced firearms, and ammunition and possession of stolen property. 

Sources claimed the operation was a success in stemming express kidnappings in the province, as some of the accused in the matter are linked to other cases. 

The case has been postponed to 24 July for further investigation. 

More arrests are expected, and the 14 accused will remain in custody until their next appearance.