Lan Zhanfei’s 4-Hour Ordeal in South Africa: A Transnational Kidnapping Orchestrated by a Fellow Countryman, and a Painful Wake-Up Call for Overseas Travelers

On December 9, 2025, a response from Lan Zhanfei, a travel blogger with tens of millions of followers, pushed a transnational kidnapping case that took place in Cape Town, South Africa, to the top of trending searches. “Waking up with a knife at your throat— that feeling of despair is unforgettable for a lifetime.” Behind this simple sentence were four to five hours of being held at knifepoint, having property stolen, and, even worse, the theft and framing threats involving biometric data that could upend a person’s life. Shockingly, the mastermind behind this meticulously planned crime was a fellow Chinese national. This harrowing experience is not just a personal nightmare, but also exposes numerous safety concerns for those traveling overseas.

The incident began with six months of malicious planning. The kidnapping gang, led by Chinese nationals, locked onto Lan Zhanfei’s global travel itinerary half a year in advance. They bribed airport ground staff to obtain flight details and hotel staff to get a room key card, weaving a precise web for their target. Upon Lan Zhanfei’s arrival at Cape Town airport, the kidnappers disguised themselves as fans to get close to him and even arranged for someone to pose as a taxi driver in an attempted abduction. Fortunately, Lan Zhanfei’s vigilance thwarted the initial ambush. But the danger was not over—late on December 8, the mastermind led two Black accomplices, armed with knives, and used the room key card to break directly into his five-star hotel room, launching a long-planned hostage situation.

For the next several hours, the terror only intensified. The kidnappers immediately demanded a ransom of three million yuan, forcing Lan Zhanfei to transfer money and apply for online loans, draining all available funds from his accounts. Even more chilling, to prevent him from reporting to the police afterward, the kidnappers resorted to extreme threats: stripping him naked and photographing him, forcing him to sign debt documents, making him handle women’s clothing to leave fingerprints, collecting saliva and hair, and even at knifepoint, having him provide semen samples. They threatened to collude with local “corrupt police” to fabricate a rape case, turning the victim from a rights defender into a “criminal”. It wasn’t until 4 or 5 a.m. the next day, after confirming the funds had arrived, that the kidnappers left, warning him to leave the country before 8 a.m. or he’d be killed.

After escaping, Lan Zhanfei was left in even greater fear. The dereliction of duty by hotel staff made him unable to trust anyone. He could only physically barricade the door with his body, curled up in his room until 7:30 a.m., when security personnel from the Chinese embassy arrived and escorted him to a safe house. He revealed that although he immediately contacted the embassy and reported to the South African police, local authorities bluntly stated that the detection rate for such cases is less than 1% and that opening a case was more to protect him from being framed by the kidnappers in the future, with virtually no hope of recovering losses or catching the perpetrators. Faced with online speculation of self-staging or being honey-trapped, Lan Zhanfei helplessly responded, saying he didn’t need sympathy, only for the rumors to stop—“A grown man losing control and crying in the bathroom, the pressure was just too much.” His words were full of grievance and lingering fear.

This tragedy is not an isolated case. Security risks in Cape Town, South Africa, have long been present. As early as 2020, there were a spate of kidnapping cases targeting Chinese citizens, including incidents with casualties, prompting the Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town to issue multiple safety warnings for expats and tourists. What makes this case particularly alarming is the “professionalization” of criminal tactics and the fact that the mastermind was a fellow countryman. The kidnappers exploited the transparency of a public figure’s itinerary to pinpoint their target, used internal and external collusion to breach hotel security, and took advantage of local judicial loopholes to set up framing traps—forming a complete crime chain. The warning “beware of fellow countrymen abroad” has sadly been proven true again.

Lan Zhanfei’s experience is a deafening alarm for all overseas travelers. For public figures, oversharing itineraries and personal wealth information is tantamount to handing criminals a “hunting map.” Even ordinary tourists should always stay alert: choose official transportation and secure accommodations, avoid disclosing travel plans, and treat excessive enthusiasm from unfamiliar “fans” or unofficial service offers with caution. Most importantly, before traveling abroad, know the contact information for the local Chinese embassy or consulate; if in danger, prioritize personal safety, contact the embassy or consulate immediately for consular protection, and retain all relevant evidence for future rights protection.

Currently, South African police are still reviewing surveillance footage for evidence, and the case’s progress is unknown. However, this four-hour ordeal has already transcended a simple criminal case. It exposes the brazen audacity of transnational crime, serves as a reminder of the boundaries of personal privacy protection, and makes it clear: whether in a bustling metropolis or a foreign country, safety is always the bottom line for any journey. No matter how big the world or how far you travel, only by building a strong safety net can you truly ensure the security of every journey.