Swiss police rescue two dogs kidnapped for over $1 million ransom

ZURICH, Switzerland — Swiss police said Saturday they had solved a kidnapping involving two dogs and a demand for ransom of 1 million Swiss francs (about $1.135 million).

Zurich police said that two Bolonka dogs were stolen from the home of a 59-year-old man in Schlieren near Zurich last week, while the dog owner was away.

When the man returned, the dogs were gone and he found a letter demanding money to release the small dogs.

Instead of paying the ransom, the man, who was not identified by name in line with Swiss privacy rules, called the police.

In the course of the investigation, police on Thursday arrested a 30-year-old Norwegian man at Zurich Airport who police said was strongly suspected of being involved in the theft.

Following further leads and cross-European cooperation, police in Poland then detained a 38-year-old suspect and discovered the kidnapped Bolonkas, which they returned safely to their owner on Friday.

Swiss police said the Norwegian is in custody in Switzerland and authorities in Poland are further investigating the Polish suspect.

A Bolonka is a toy breed of dogs bred in Russia nad sold for up to a couple of thousand dollars.