Dar es Salaam – Police here have arrested four Chinese nationals in connection with the kidnapping and extortion of two fellow Chinese businessmen, marking a significant operation against organised crime involving foreign nationals operating in Tanzania.
The suspects—Fan Zhong (49), Deng Anging (49), Zhang Jianjun (51), and Deng Qiang (40)—were apprehended following investigations into the abduction of Weiyi Chen (64) and Liang Xiolo (44), who were held for a US$20 million ransom demand.
According to Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro, the victims were ambushed and abducted from the PSSSF Twin Towers in Dar es Salaam on May 14, 2026, at approximately 1:30 am.
A group of seven individuals forcibly took the businessmen to an undisclosed location, after which the suspects contacted their relatives demanding US$20 million (approximately Sh52.2 billion) for their release.
Police launched a rescue operation on May 16, 2026, successfully locating and freeing the victims in the Mbezi Beach area of Kinondoni District.
Both men were found with injuries on various parts of their bodies, indicating they had been subjected to physical abuse during their captivity.
One of the victims, Weiyi Chen, remained hospitalised at Agakhan Hospital in Dar es Salaam following the rescue, with his condition described as serious. The other victim received treatment at the same facility.
Police investigations revealed that the kidnapping was a carefully planned and executed operation.
Officers identified two vehicles used in the crime: a Toyota Alphard with registration number T305 DRA, whose plates were found to be irregular, and a Toyota Harrier bearing registration number T188 DHT.
Muliro disclosed that the suspects employed sophisticated communication methods to coordinate the kidnapping and extortion.
They utilised multiple mobile phones before and after the operation, then discarded them and switched to other devices and SIM cards to avoid detection.
“They were using four phones before and after the incident, but after committing the crime, they discarded them and switched to other phones,” Muliro told a press conference.
“This was a well-planned and executed crime, but a criminal is a criminal and crime does not pay.”
Following intensive investigations, police arrested the four suspects. Officers recovered the victims’ mobile phones and other exhibits linked to the crime. The suspects have been interrogated and are providing information to assist ongoing investigations.
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Muliro confirmed that the suspects had threatened the victims’ relatives before the kidnapping, indicating a pattern of premeditation. The kidnappers specifically instructed relatives on how to deliver the ransom.
The police commander noted that investigations into the kidnapping are continuing, and anyone implicated in the case will face legal action in accordance with due process.
“Anyone implicated in the case will face legal action as police continue to follow due process in both investigation and prosecution,” Muliro stated.
Muliro also referenced other serious crimes under investigation in Dar es Salaam, including the killing of businessman Baozang Ge, owner of XIL LI plastic recycling factory in Mabibo Sokoni, as well as the kidnapping of David Djumbe, an assistant to CHADEMA chairman Tundu Lissu.
He indicated that investigations into those cases are ongoing and the public will be informed once suspects are apprehended.
Muliro urged members of the public to continue cooperating with police by providing timely and accurate information to help curb crime in society.
“We thank citizens who have been providing true information,” he said. “Some of it has helped prevent crime, and others have helped us arrest those involved in criminal activities.”
“We continue to thank those who provide true information, which has enabled us to carry out our basic duty of preventing crime.”
