Cape Town - The Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, have confirmed they have been roped into investigating the kidnapping of the alleged Cape gang boss who was abducted by Colombian Cartels with a ransom demand of R50 million.
Claims were made that Peter Jaggers, from Kriefgat in Cape Town, had allegedly stolen R1 billion worth of cocaine and rumours spread that he had been killed by the cartel.
This week, Hawks' colonel Katlego Mogale said they were investigating the case which was at a sensitive stage and could not comment further.
“The case has since been transferred to the ORTIA (Oliver Tambo International Airport) SAPS. The Johannesburg-based Hawks' South Africa Narcotics Bureau is entrusted with the case and it is still under investigation.”
Jaggers, an alleged Terrible Josters gang boss, remains missing since he was last seen on July 4 at the Emperor's Hotel in Gauteng. He had been attending a meeting with a business partner when he was allegedly kidnapped by the Colombian cartel from South America.
The ransom demand was allegedly asked of his family.
Earlier it was also alleged that he was not alone when he was abducted. A William Peterson was named by another publication as being a victim, however, police did not confirm this.
Jaggers is allegedly linked to the missing vessel known as ‘The Berta Fishing Experience' which made headlines in March after six fishermen went missing for several hours at sea. It was believed the men had run out of fuel.
Among the group was one of Jaggers' relatives, whose name is being withheld for safety reasons.
JP Smith, Mayco Member for Safety and Security, raised concerns about drugs at South African ports. He earlier said the missing vessel had actually been used as a guise to transport drugs, but that this incident had prepared them for more illicit trade at sea.
“A few months back a fishing boat was reportedly lost out at sea and the crew was unaccounted for,” he said.
“Trying to assist, we sent our eyein-the-sky out, but could find no trace.
“What apparently happened is that all the crew were accounted for and the boat hadn't really sunk. Instead it was a cover up – where the boat went to pick up a large cocaine shipment.
“Known as the Southern route, cartels use passing container ships to drop off large drug shipments left floating in barrels and with the GPS pin that was sent to local gangs.
“It is alleged that Peter Jaggers, instead of transporting the cocaine, tried to keep it and then claimed the boat sank. A few days later, his wife reported he had been kidnapped after having to meet ‘business associates' at ORTIA. The cartels are now demanding their shipment be returned, or to pay a ransom of R50m.
“Drugs being shipped through our coast is nothing new. But we must do more. So we have now taken delivery of our new weapon, a high-tech, high-powered enforcement vessel, similar to the nine owned by South Africa's Special Task Force, but just with improved technology and power. It has 2x 350hp motors, enhanced long range zoom cameras and thermal imaging. So poachers, drug smugglers, any criminal coming over the waters – beware.
“Now you can't run. Now you can't hide,” Smith said.