Raymond Davis, the American held in Pakistan on double murder charges for an incident in Lahore last month, is employed by the CIA as a contractor. Photo: AP Raymond Davis, the American held in Pakistan on double murder charges for an incident in Lahore last month, is employed by the CIA as a contractor. Photo: AP
At least six different South African police units, the Air Force, the FBI and British police were involved in a joint sting operation which netted a 64-year-old businessman for threats of terrorism.
The businessman, who has not been named as he has still to appear in court, was arrested at a storage facility in Hartebeespoort in North West yesterday morning.
The arrest follows a six-month investigation which culminated in a carefully planned sting operation.
“The suspect repeatedly, through letters and e-mails, demanded an amount of $4 million (R29m) in exchange for not deploying a biological agent within the borders of the United Kingdom,” Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in a statement.
“This biological agent, if deployed, would have caused the destruction of property and resulted in major economic loss.”
Police said this was regarded as a “very serious threat” against the UK. It is alleged that a similar threat was also made against the US.
“Intensive and highly complicated multi-disciplinary investigations and the subsequent take-down operation this morning involved the application of specialised components and methodologies of the SA Police Service,” said Mthethwa.
“The successful termination of this operation once again illustrates that the SAPS has the capacity and expertise to deal with major crimes and international counter terrorism issues.”
Police spokewoman Sally de Beer told The Sunday Independent that the police’s Special Task Force had arrested the man and members from The Hawks, Crime Intelligence Unit, Air Wing, Legal Services and Veterinary Services all played a role in the investigation.
De Beer said the police were not able to say what the “biological agent” was, but that details would be revealed in court.
Police lured him to a warehouse complex with the promise of handing over the $4m payout in return for not releasing the chemical.
De Beer said the man had been writing the threatening letters “since July last year up to last Thursday”.
Police could not say whether other people would be arrested at a later stage.
“At this moment, we cannot say. We still have to question him and it is not clear at this stage if there will be other arrests.”
De Beer said that in his letters, the man had said “very clearly that he could” have access to a biological chemical.
“We are searching his premises to see if he does have the capability. We have not found anything yet. We are busy at his home and then from there we may move to another one of his premises.” De Beer could not say exactly how many properties were likely to be searched.
The man is due to appear in court tomorrow. However at the time of going to print prosecutors had yet to decide which court to approach.
US embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the arrest was “a long time coming”, but was reluctant to comment further, saying only that there had been “close collaboration between the SA police service, American law enforcement based at the embassy as well as Scotland Yard.”