(30 Mar 1998) Spanish/Nat

Argentine police have arrested the alleged mastermind of a 1996 kidnapping which led to the highest paid ransom recorded in German history.

Thomas Drach was arrested after he arrived in Buenos Aires, in disguise, to see his favourite rock group, the Rolling Stones, play live.

Drach is believed to have kidnapped German tobacco tycoon Jan Philip Reemtsma who was later released in return for 14 (m) million U-S dollars.

Details of the arrest of the German Thomas Drach were given out at a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Monday.

The police involved have found the man they believe masterminded a kidnapping in 1996 which led to the highest paid ransom recorded in German history.

The arrest is a result of close work between the police and Interpol.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"In the last weeks, together with Interpol and the German authorities, the federal police department has carried an investigation which brought us on Saturday at 00:30 (local time) to the arrest of Thomas Drach in the Caesar Park Hotel"
SUPER CAPTION: Jorge Senabre - Commissariat of Interpol - local chief

In 1996 Thomas Drach allegedly held his captor hostage in chains for 33 days in the basement of a house in northern Germany.

The family of German tobacco tycoon Jan Philip Reemtsma paid out around 14 (m) million dollars, for his release -- the largest ransom paid in Germany.

Soon after the release of Reemtsma in April 1996 two of the kidnappers were arrested in Spain.

But Drach escaped and has been travelling around the world under false names ever since.

According to Interpol he has been in Bulgaria, Hungary, the United States, Brazil, Cuba and Mexico.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"He had a Mercedes Benz car, 30.000 dollars and some personal effects with him, and, of course, (he was travelling) under a false identity. All this elements are now in the hands of the investigators."
SUPER CAPTION: Jorge Senabre - Commissariat of Interpol - local chief

Then five days ago he flew from Cuba to Uruguay, finally driving a Mercedes Benz to Argentina's capital Buenos Aires.

But his voyage came to an end at a luxury hotel in a smart area of Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Police believed that Drach was disguised as an Englishman and knowing his taste for luxurious living tracked him down to the Caesar hotel in the Recoleta neighbourhood.

The other clue which led police to the fugitive was his passion for the rock band the Rolling Stones.

Drach was arrested before he had a chance to attend the first of three concerts to be given by the band in the capital.

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