Damascus Countryside, Dec. 21 (SANA)The Criminal Investigations Branch in the Damascus countryside, in cooperation with the Internal Security Directorate in al-Tel town, has arrested two individuals involved in the kidnapping of a citizen and demanding ransom for his release.

In a statement published on the ministrys official Telegram channel, the operation followed a report of a citizen being abducted from the al-Adawi neighborhood of Damascus. The kidnappers contacted the victims family and demanded a sum of money in exchange for his release.

After surveillance and precise investigative work, security forces identified the whereabouts of the suspects in the al-Tel area, where they were apprehended. The kidnapped citizen was freed and safely returned to his family, according to the statement.

The ministry said preliminary investigations revealed that the two suspects were also involved in the kidnapping of another citizen from the Masaken Barzeh neighborhood, where they had received a ransom of $100,000.

Part of the ransom was recovered and returned to its owner by a decision of the public prosecutor, the statement said.

The two suspects have been referred to the competent judicial authorities to face legal action in accordance with the laws in force.