The drama, which apparently began in Britain over an alleged "massive inheritance", started to unfold on Barbadian soil on Saturday morning when a number of people reported to police that a man and woman, believe to be tourists, were forcibly removed from a car.
This was around 9:30 a.m. at Church Village, St Philip, and an immediate police response resulted in a national broadcast by police public relations officer Station Sergeant Barry Hunte for public assistance in locating a missing hired car.
Police also blocked roads in a fruitless effort to intercept the car.
Yesterday, however, Hunte reported that on Saturday afternoon they were able to trace a Spanish woman who had arrived in the island accompanied by a
British man on May 25, and who were scheduled to leave on July 6.
Based on information and further investigation, police executed a search warrant at Cherry Drive, Sunset Crest, St James, early yesterday morning and took into custody "five Caucasian male British nationals ranging in age from 24 to 40 years".
The missing Briton was reportedly found confined at that location and had to be taken for medical attention after being freed by police.
Hunte added: "Further investigations revealed that the five suspects arrived in Barbados together on June 15 and were scheduled to depart on June 29."
While police are continuing their investigations, and have informed the British High Commission here of the detention of the five, sources told the DAILY NATION the kidnapping appeared to be an attempt to get the Briton to sign certain documents
related to an inheritance left to two sons by a wealthy father.
Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin, while not speaking on the specifics of the case, told the DAILY NATION: "I wish to assure all visitors to the island that the Royal Barbados Police Force will protect them while they are here; and that the speed and investigative skills employed in this case are evidence of our capacity to do just that."
Police have found no evidence to suggest any locals were involved
in the matter.
