Dutch criminologist, Dr. Jacques Smits, and the mother of the two kidnapped children, Ms. Aneta Joanna Szadkowska, left Guyana on July 2, after spending some time here and failing to locate the children or the alleged child abductor.

The local firm was put on the case, and its head, Mr. Errol VanNooten, said they have someone on standby with experience in Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, just in case Ploeger is spotted in the neighbouring countries.

21st century Investigation Services has also established links with persons in Essequibo, Linden and Berbice, VanNooten told the Chronicle yesterday.

Herman Ploeger, 34, a Dutch national, allegedly fled the Netherlands about a year ago with his two children Pacsal, 3, and Timotheus, 4, even though he lost parental custody on four separate occasions during a bitter divorce battle in his native country.

The search for Ploeger and the children has led Smits to Spain, Belgium, Germany and Italy.

Ploeger is wanted by the Dutch Police, a Venezuelan law enforcement agency, and by Interpol (the International Police Organisation) for “international child abduction”.