The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) arrested three citizens when they tried to kidnap a businessman, in Manhiça district, Maputo province, allegedly at the behest of his son.

According to National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) spokesman Henrique Mendes, the three-man group had inside information and left South Africa, where they live, to kidnap the businessman.

"Sernic learned of this claim through intelligence sources. We followed up from the border, where they entered, and monitored them up to the Manhiça district," the spokesman said during a press conference.

The source revealed that the citizen businessman had just made cattle and sugarcane sales, and therefore had a lot of money.

According to the authorities, work is underway to locate the mastermind and two other people who are on the run and who are also involved in the crime.

According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, last year alone, the corporation prevented three kidnapping attempts that had inmates as mentors, arrested 13 suspects and seized three firearms that were used to intimidate the victims, mostly businessmen.