Rabat- Spanish police announced on Thursday, July 4, that the two suspects accused of holding captive and torturing a Moroccan national have been arrested and detained.
The Moroccan national was reportedly held captive and tortured for eleven days by two Frenchmen in April 2023 on a farm in Torrox, a village on the Costa del Sol in the province of Malaga, Spain.
The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was subjected to violence, deprived of food, and intentionally left thirsty during his ordeal. The two suspects cut off the victim’s ear in an attempt to coerce his family into paying a ransom of 1.4 million euros.
The two men, aged 39 and 43, were arrested in Spain and France following a coordinated investigation, according to the police statement. They have been charged with kidnapping, torture, and possession of firearms.
The investigation is still ongoing, as authorities are working to determine the motive behind the kidnapping and the extent of the suspects’ involvement in the crime.
“During his captivity, they cut off part of his ear,” inflicted numerous blows, and “even deprived him of food,” only giving him water “on rare occasions,” before releasing him in an isolated area of the region, police reports detailed.
Alerted by his family, who had received a video showing the victim gagged, with his hands and feet tied with cables and his face covered in bruises, authorities tracked down the alleged kidnappers.
The suspects were arrested in a resort town on the Costa del Sol. At the residence of one of the suspects, police discovered an AK-47 assault rifle, three pistols, and numerous rounds of ammunition.
The Costa del Sol is a touristic region particularly favored by international drug traffickers. In recent years, the increasing number of violent disputes has raised concerns among Spanish authorities.
