A gang has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping and holding to ransom a man for £400,000.
The man, 30, is believed to have been tortured and beaten after debts were not paid, he was then held to ransom for the huge sum.
A total of five men and one woman have been arrested, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Charges include false imprisonment, kidnap and threats to kill.
A raid last week by the NCA, Albanian Police and the Met Police recovered the alleged victim on the day the cash was due to be paid to the charged six.
Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)Another man, 26-year-old Nekid Arapi, was also charged with intent to supply cannabis.
The six appeared in at Willesden Magistrates' Court on September 30 and have been remanded in custody. They are due to appear at Harrow Crown Court on October 28.
A list of charges and the accused supplied by the Met is as follows:
- Nekid Arapi, 26, charged with kidnap, false imprisonment, possession with intent to supply cannabis and threats to kill
- Xhon Guveli, 28, charged with kidnap and false imprisonment.
- Fation Arapi, 27, charged with kidnap and false imprisonment.
- Armando Brahashaj, 26, charged with kidnap and false imprisonment.
- Eduart Cepele, 30, charged with kidnap and false imprisonment.
- Emanulea Arapi, 28, charged with false imprisonment.
Image:
Getty Images)A Met spokesperson added: "They appeared at Willesden Magistrates' Court on 30 September. They were remanded in custody to appear at Harrow Crown Court on 28 October."
Albanian state police spokesperson Gent Mullai told The Telegraph : "Albanian police successfully finalised an international operation to free a man who was kidnapped.
"Albanian police, Metropolitan Police and NCA officers managed to free him.
"The investigation directorate of crimes at Albanian police received information about a 30-year-old Albanian who was kidnapped in England and had been asked for £400,000 to free him.
"Albanian state police exchanged information with the UK who then set up an operation to free him."
Image:
Getty Images/EyeEm)The case came to light when the brother of the kidnapped man, who is safely under the protection of police, was said to have been sent videos by the group and received alarming phone calls.
Only four days were given to the family to raise the best part of half a million.
Mullai added: "That operation identified and freed the kidnapped man who is now safe under UK police protection. Seven people all Albanian so far have been arrested.
"The operation continues. We cannot name the kidnapped person or the arrested people until the end of this operation."
