Tanzania tycoon kidnap: Police say vehicle came from foreign country

What you need to know:

  • Probe. Tanzania police say they are working with Interpol to carry out investigations.

Police in Tanzania say the vehicle used by the men who abducted billionaire businessman Mohammed Dewji drove into Tanzania from a ‘neighbouring country’.
Mr Simon Sirro, the Inspector General of Police of Tanzania, made the revelation during a press conference in Dar es Salaam on Friday. He, however, did not name the ‘neighbouring country’.
Mr Dewji, 43, the owner of MeTL Group, who is regarded as the richest man in Tanzania, was kidnapped on the morning of October 11 as he went to do his routine workout at an exclusive hotel. A manhunt has since been launched and his family has since put up $436,000 (Shs1.65 billion) reward for whoever provides information on his whereabouts.

READ: Abducted billionaire Mohammed Dewji returns home safely
During the press briefing, Mr Sirro displayed a photo depicting the dark blue and silver vehicle. He revealed that it entered the country on September 1.
The IGP, who also did not indicate which border point the vehicle entered the country from, said the vehicle was being driven by a person identified as Obasanjo Zacharias Junior. Mr Sirro detailed the route the vehicle used.
He said most of residences in Oyster Bay, where Mr Dewj was kidnapped from, have installed CCTV cameras which enabled the police to acquire the footage leading to the identification of the vehicle.
He said they are working with Interpol to carry out the investigations.