Two kidnappings involving two Hong Kong container truck drivers were solved recently, sources from the public security bureau said Sunday.

Early on June 4, police received two reports, with each claiming a Hong Kong container truck driver had been kidnapped on the evening of June 3.

According to the reports, on the evening of June 3, two Hong Kong drivers took a "taxi" bearing blue plates after parking their trucks in a parking lot at Huanggang Checkpoint.

When they arrived at the Huanggang crossroads on Binhe Thoroughfare, five men, who claimed to be policemen, ran out from a stationary minibus and kidnapped them.

The police mobilized a special force to investigate.

On June 11, police seized five suspects and confiscated the "taxi" along with an amount of money and other valuables that they allegedly robbed. It was alleged that the men conspired with the "taxi" driver to carry out the kidnappings.

The five suspects have allegedly confessed to impersonating police and kidnapping the drivers.

Police warned people against taking "taxis" bearing blue registration plates because these are private cars which are not allowed to be used for business. Genuine taxis bear green registration plates.

(Shenzhen Daily June 15, 2004)