The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) has arrested a man suspected of involvement in a kidnapping that took place in 2021 in the central province of Manica.

"We had an arrest warrant against him for kidnapping an Indian man in 2021," said Paulo Candieiro, SERNIC spokesman.

The man, whose nationality is still unknown, was arrested by the public protection police on Wednesday, along with four other people with whom he was carrying out robberies in the province, according to SERNIC, quoted by Lusa.

"He said he was Mozambican, but he didn't have any identification documents [to prove it]," said Paulo Candieiro.

Since 2020, some of the country's cities, especially the provincial capitals, have once again been affected by a wave of kidnappings, mainly targeting businesspeople or their families.