THE police are trying to find Cleveland Largie, the Portmore man who was believed to have been the island’s third kidnap victim in less than a week but who, cops now say, voluntarily went with men he allegedly fleeced in a visa scam.

“We are tracking Mr Largie,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas told the Observer last night. “We want him. We have an interest in him. The police want to ask him some questions.”

The Bridgeport police say Largie, and his wife who is awaiting trial in the Spanish Town criminal court on fraud charges, ran an illegal visa racket.

Largie, DCP Thomas said, had only come to his attention after reports surfaced that he was snatched by four men at about 10:00 am Wednesday.

Yesterday, the Bridgeport police saidtwo women had reported that Largie was shoved into a car by two of four men who had arrived in two cars at a restaurant at 116 Cecile Avenue in Edgewater . They spoke to Largie, who pulled down the shutters of the restaurant.

There was a discussion about money, the women said, before Largie was bundled into one of the cars and driven away. The women alerted the Bridgeport police.

According to Observer sources, Largie is alleged to have collected $70,000 from three men whom he assured would be guaranteed British entry visas. Largie had apparently prepared fraudulent documents for presentation to the British High Commission.

One of the men is rumoured to have been a member of the St Catherine-based One Order Gang, but DCP Thomas was last night unable to confirm this.

“The British High Commission picked up the fraud and did not grant the visas,” the senior cop said.

He refused to be drawn on what charges Largie may possibly face, saying it would depend on the statements collected. But he made it clear that if Largie does not come in, cops will go get him.

Yesterday, the Portmore police were still trying to determine if a man who had called the station, identified himself as Largie and said, ‘I am back, them release me,’ was in fact Largie.

The call came in at about 1:00 am yesterday.

“He promised to come to the station and make a formal report after he had taken his medication,” said Det Cpl Wright of the Bridgeport police station. “He has not done so as yet and we are still waiting, but we are not sure if the call was genuine.”