Current timestamp: 13/05/2025 08:34:58
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal Activity[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-location' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Leave this site

Cookies

We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.

You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.

Accept cookies Reject cookies Customise cookies

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

South Wales Police force crest / Arwyddlun Heddlu De Cymru

  • Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Report a missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Spiking
    • Stalking or harassment
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
    • Hate crime
  • Back to Tell us about

    • How to tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
  • Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Compensation for something the police have done
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Feedback about the website
    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
  • Your area

Organised Crime Group sentenced to a total of 116 years for a Cardiff kidnap

Main article content

Featured
Published: 12:13 27/10/2023

Nine men have been jailed following the kidnap of a Cardiff man.

The case has been described as is one of the UK’s most complicated kidnap investigations in recent times.

At around 4.30pm on Friday, December 11, 2020, a 22-year-old man was taken from Clifton Street, Splott, to Odet Court in Pendwyallt Road, Whitchurch.

Unbeknown to him, a kidnap plan was already underway by an Organised Crime Group to extort money from him, and his friends, which involved holding them at gun and knife point, and included the demand of a £50k ransom payment to ensure his safe return.

At 7.57pm that day South Wales Police received a 999-call and the force’s Major Crime Investigation Team launched an investigation.

The victim, who was known to a member of the London-based gang, was then transported to a separate location in Hemel Hempstead, England where he continued to be beaten, handcuffed, kept at knife point and under threat of a viciously trained attack dog.

As a result of a joint investigation with several police forces and the National Crime Agency, the victim was safely rescued from the address in Hemel Hempstead at 11.30pm on Saturday, December 12.

During a court hearing, the victim said: “The police saved my life. I don’t believe I would have been alive unless the police came that day. I’m 100% sure. I don’t know what the reason they wanted me dead, but I’m 100% sure I would not be alive."

Nearly three years later and following three trials, nine men have been convicted.

Organised Crime Group sentenced to a total of 116 years for a Cardiff kidnap

Immediate prison sentence total 116 years.  

Six of the nine have been given extended sentence amounting to 22 years for the danger they pose to the public. This means should they commit any further offences during the extended sentence period, at the end of their time in prison, they will return to prison to serve the remainder of their initial custodial sentence.

Convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment, and blackmail are:

  • Fortune Lawson, 27, from Ealing, London. 25 years in prison plus 5 years extended sentence. (Lawson was also sentenced for his part in a second kidnap and blackmail case in London in 2018).
  • Davood Assadopour, 32, from Harrow, London. 15 years in prison plus 4 years extended sentence.
  • Micaiah Marley, 30, from Watford, 15 years in prison plus 4 years extended sentence.
  • Arnold Fumumeya, 27, from Harrow, London. 13 years in prison plus 3 years extended sentence.
  • Alexis Mutesa, 27, from Brent, London. 13 years in prison plus 3 years extended sentence.
  • Gideon Lawson, 24, from London. 12 years in prison plus 3 years extended sentence.
  • Ahmed Omar, 29, from Mitcham, Surrey. 9 years in prison.
  • Also, Denis Delishaj, 24, from Harrow, London, convicted of blackmail. 8 years in prison, plus 8 months for possession of an illicit phone while in prison awaiting trial.
  • Stephen Isaac, 66, from Hemel Hempstead, convicted of kidnap and false imprisonment. 6 years.

During the investigation weapons including six knives, five live rounds of ammunition, a handgun, a grenade smoke bomb, and a taser disguised as a mobile telephone were seized.

Detectives recovered more than 400 hours of CCTV from across 5 Police Force areas and took more than 1,000 statements.

 Detective Superintendent Darren George, head of South Wales Police Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Kidnap and the criminal use of firearms in South Wales is extremely rare and when they do happen, as this Organised Crime Group have found out, we are determined to go after those involved.

“This has been one of the UK’s most complicated kidnap investigations in recent times and it has taken nearly three years to convict these nine individuals.

“We hope our investment into this crime and sentences handed down send a clear message to those intent on bringing this sort of violence to our streets.

“We will relentlessly pursue you with everything at our disposal and you will go to jail.”

Arbus firearm.JPGArbus balaclava.JPGArbus rambo knife.JPG

 

 

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

South Wales Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • Careers
  • About us
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention advice
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • Police and Crime Commissioner
  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police

Language

  • Cymraeg

Follow us on

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.