Tanzanian Police have detained four Chinese nationals in connection with the kidnapping of two fellow Chinese businessmen and a ransom demand of $20 million.
The victims were abducted from the PSSSF Twin Towers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s capital, until they were rescued in a special police operation conducted on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro, in a media briefing, said the incident was reported on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at around 1:30 am, when the two businessmen, Weiyi Chen (64) and Liang Xiolo (44), were allegedly kidnapped.
Muliro said the victims were ambushed by a group of seven people and taken to an unknown location, after which the suspects contacted their relatives demanding a $20 million ransom for their release.
“After investigations began, we were able to identify the vehicles used in the crime, including a Toyota Alphard registration number T305 DRA, which was found to be irregular, and a Toyota Harrier registration number T188 DHT,” he said.
He said a rescue operation was launched on Saturday, May 16, 2026, during which the victims were found in Mbezi Beach, Kinondoni District, with injuries on various parts of their bodies.
Following further investigations, police arrested four suspects, all Chinese nationals: Fan Zhong (49), Deng Anging (49), Zhang Jianjun (51), and Deng Qiang.
He added that although some details of the investigation could not be disclosed at this stage, evidence showed the crime was carefully planned and executed.
“This was a well-planned and executed crime, but a criminal is a criminal and crime does not pay,” he said.
Police worked in collaboration with other security agencies to track down the suspects. Investigators successfully traced two vehicles believed to have been used in the kidnapping: a Toyota Alphard bearing registration number T.305 DRP and a Toyota Harrier with registration number T.188 DHT. Both vehicles were found to have irregular license plates, a common tactic used by criminals to evade detection.
Following the abduction, the suspects contacted relatives of the victims and demanded a ransom of 20 million US dollars for their safe release. The massive sum underscores what appears to be a targeted operation against businessmen believed to have significant financial resources.
MG/abj/APA