Albanian kidnappers torture victim and blackmail his family in UK

A 30-year-old man allegedly kidnapped for four days and held to ransom for £400,000 in London has been freed after an international police operation.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police, National Crime Agency (NCA) and Albanian police conducted the raid last week to rescue the man who was being held in east London in what was claimed to be a dispute over an unpaid debt.

The alleged kidnappers had demanded £400,000 for the release of the 30-year-old who is alleged to have been beaten and tortured.

The brother of the 30-year-old told Albanian police about the alleged kidnap after receiving phone calls from the gang and videos of his brother, according to Albanian police sources.

They allegedly gave him a four-day deadline to pay the £400,000. It is understood the raid to free his brother came on the day the money was due last week, according to Albanian sources.

Gent Mullai, spokesman for the Albanian state police, confirmed the rescue, saying: “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.

“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.”

It is understood the NCA assisted in the operation last week which was led by the Metropolitan Police.

A spokesman said five men and a woman had been charged. The alleged offences include kidnap, false imprisonment and threat to kill.