
The mysterious online criminal syndicate behind the kidnapping of a British model has boasted of its 'huge generosity' in letting her go 'because she is a mother'.

It emerged this morning how the woman was drugged, handcuffed and loaded into a car boot in Milan before being driven 120 miles to a farmhouse in Turin where she was kept for six days.

But the organisation, known as Black Death, then performed the u-turn and took her back to Milan, warning in a letter she would be 'eliminated' if she went to the police or spoke negatively about them.

The woman, 20, whose identity has not been revealed, was held prisoner for a week after being drugged with ketamine, authorities said.

At a sensational police press conference in Milan her captor was named as Polish-born Lukasz Herba, 30, who is accused of trying to sell her on the internet for 300,000 Euros (£270,000) through bitcoin.

When officers arrested him he was found in possession of a pamphlet on Black Death which offers the sexual services of women for auction on the dark web.

A picture supposedly uploaded to the organisation's website showed a topless woman tied up alongside details including measurements and nationality in an apparent advertisement - although the image is believed to have been taken from an unrelated pornographic film.

Police say the British model was lured to an abandoned shop near Milan's Central Station with the promise of a photoshoot, only to be drugged, handcuffed and put in a suitcase.

An image supposedly uploaded to the dark web by Black Death shows a woman alongside details including measurements and nationality, although the picture is believed to be a scene from a pornographic film

Police in Italy say Lukasz Herba , pictured, 'kidnapped and tried to sell a British model on the dark web for £270,000'

A police officer poses in a bag like the one the 20-year-old was tied up and put into after she was drugged with ketamine

It is thought that she was bundled into a car and taken to an abandoned industrial unit, where her kidnapper attempted to sell her on the dark web

Two pairs of handcuffs were among the evidence which was seized by police following the discovery of the kidnapped model

She was drugged with ketamine at an abandoned office, pictured, an Italian court heard, where she was told the photoshoot would take place

Officers have since cordoned off the property and say she was going to be released by the kidnappers because 'she was a mother with a two-year-old child'

She was loaded into the back of the vehicle and kept in the bag for two-and-a-half hours during the 120-mile drive from Milan to Turin, pictured

Corriere della Sera reported the model had been lured to the fake shoot from Paris and was then loaded into the back of a car and driven to an abandoned shop south of Milan, before she was then taken on to a farmhouse near Turin 120 miles away.

It is thought she was kept in the bag for two-and-a-half hours and stayed in Turin for six days. Reports in Italy say Herba told officers he had sex with the model - police are still investigating the claim.

According to media reports, Herba rented the cottage in Turin telling the property's owner that he was an artist who wanted to find 'inspiration' for his paintings.

Italian police say the offender demanded 50,000 Euros (£45,000) to free her and 'threatened to kill her' if she told officers what happened to her.

Authorities said the kidnappers were going to release her 'because she had a two-year-old child' and their 'rules exclude kidnapping mothers'.

In a letter sent to the victim upon her release, Black Death told her that a 'mistake' had been made in capturing her.

It added that she had been let go after one of its men made 'a clear and solid stance in your case'.

Officers seized Herba, who is believed to live in the West Midlands, near the British Consulate on July 17 as he was accompanying the model there and said he confessed to the crime.

Police said she was held for a week in abandoned offices in the city and officers are now looking for accomplices after the model told them she was 'attacked by two people'.

Prosecutors in Italy said Herba was linked to the 'Black Death' criminal organisation that works on the dark web.

They also alleged Herba had dealings in 'chemicals and poisons' as he faced a pre-trial hearing before magistrate Anna Magelli in Milan on Friday.

'THIS IS JUST BUSINESS': WHAT BLACK DEATH TOLD THE MODEL 'You are being released as a huge generosity from Black Death Group. Your release does, however, come with a warning and you should read this letter very carefully. 'You are certainly aware of your value on human slavery market (sic) and must make a note that this isn't personal, this is business. For your release we have taken a number of factors into consideration. 'A mistake was made by capturing you, especially considering you are a young mother that should have in no circumstances be lured into kidnapping. Second important factor (sic) you are very well aware of is your overall protection by one of our main and very well respected men who made a very clear and solid stance in your case. 'You will, upon your landing in your home country cease any investigation activities related to your kidnapping. You also agreed to sneak a pre-determined set of information in to the media and we will expect to see evidence that has been done in the near future. 'You and your family will, in no way ever talk about us in bad language and without respect. You have been treated fairly, with respect and we expect to hear exactly the same about us in return. You can release any information you have heard from MO while your holding as he would never give you any information that could harm our activities. We will not tolerate lying about anything that has happened. 'You have also agreed to pay outstanding costs of your release of $50,000. We expect that money to be paid in BitCoins within one month. 'Any sort of disobedience with the above will result in your elimination.' Advertisement

Police said the model was driven 120 miles to a farmhouse in Turin, pictured, and officers are now looking for accomplices after the model told them she was 'attacked by two people'

Pictured: The interior 'dungeon' of the farmhouse where the model was kept for six days before she was taken back to Milan to be released

Police found a small bedroom, pictured, in the property but it is unclear whether it was used by the model or the kidnapper

Prosecutors in Italy said Herba was linked to the 'Black Death' criminal organisation that works on the dark web

Police also released an image of Herba's passport in which he went by another name, Daniel Zawada, as well as a card with a bizarre image that appears to contain contact details for the 'Black Death' group

A court heard she had been lured to Milan from Paris but was kidnapped in a 'very well organised seizure' at the shop, pictured

Reports in Italy said the woman has given statements to police and prosecutors aided by lawyers from the British Consulate.

A Milan court heard the woman arrived in Milan on July 11 and was seized near the central station when she was drugged with ketamine.

Prosecutors described the kidnapping as a 'very well-organised seizure' and added he was contacted over the internet two days later with requests to 'buy' her for sexual purposes.

Police say they are still unclear whether the kidnappers were running an online scam to con 'buyers' out of money or whether they actually intended to sell her on.

Police found several items belonging to the model. pictured, in the shop in Milan as well as a card with a picture relating to the 'Black Death' group

It appears the model was stripped of some of her clothing with items found abandoned on the shop floor by police

The shop, pictured, has been sealed off while a vehicle belonging to Herba was searched with the woman's hair found inside

Police say they have not established whether the online auction was a scam or if the kidnappers actually intended to sell the model

Prosecutors added Herba was contacted over the internet two days later with requests to 'buy' her for sexual purposes while she was at the Turin farmhouse, pictured

MYSTERY OF ONLINE CRIME SYNDICATE: WHO OR WHAT IS BLACK DEATH? Little is known about the Black Death criminal syndicate that is said to operate on the dark web. They are said to have been set up during the early days of the internet in 1994 and are involved in various crimes. When police arrested Herba they found a pamphlet associated with the group which said they operate in 'disturbing' areas including bombing, drug dealing, human trafficking and arms dealing. A note was also found addressed to the victim saying she was being released due to the 'huge generosity' of the group. It went on to say one of their members 'made a case' to release her which was granted due to her 'status as a young mother', with her kidnapping branded 'a mistake'. A leaflet advertising Black Death's services was found by police alongside a note to the victim explaining why she was being released But it came with a warning not to tell authorities about the kidnapping and she was told 'never to talk about us in bad language and without respect'. The note said the model had been 'treated fairly and with respect' and the group expected the same. A picture also showed a cartoon of doctors from the mid 1300s wearing 'plague masks' with hooked noses which they believed would protect them from 'putrid air' which was thought to carry the disease. There has been some debate as to whether Black Death is real or an online scam. Writer Joseph Cox who works for internet site Motherboard said he tried to investigate their dealings in 2015 and tried to enter an auction for a woman. After exchanging numerous emails, the group wrote to him: 'We don't invite strangers to auctions. We don't want popularity. No Europol. No people just looking around. No journalists or bloggers. Just serious business.' Advertisement

Officers went through Herba's phone and computer and said they found photos of the woman and material stating she was for sale, while hair from both the model and Herba was found in the boot of his car.

It is understood the police investigation involved reconstructing the kidnapping scene and studying CCTV footage from the area.

They also traced his mobile phone and tracked down a taxi driver who gave him a lift and were able to lie in wait at the Consulate for him.

But reports in La Stampa alleged Herba had contacted the model's agent and demanded the same £270,000 price for her freedom.

The agent then contacted police and Herba reportedly negotiated a £50,000 ransom with them which he expected to receive at the Consulate.

The Foreign Office confirmed it was providing assistance to the woman in Italy and is also cooperating with local authorities.

Neighbours confirmed that Lukasz lived alone in a small block of flats off a residential street in Oldbury, Birmingham.

They reported that police had search the property two weeks ago, but that Lukasz himself had not been there for three weeks.

According to neighbours he would come and go often, speeding up to the front of the building in a red Toyota wearing a suit.

A car has been found and is being treated as evidence by police in the investigation into the model's kidnapping

A pair of trainers is among the evidence being examined by police following the shock discovery that the model had been kidnapped

It is understood the police investigation involved reconstructing the kidnapping scene and studying CCTV footage from the area

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'Police came here about two weeks ago and kicked the door down.

'It was 2:30 in the morning and really loud. I had no idea what was going on, and I jumped out of bed to see them smashing their way into the flat.

'I never really used to talk to him as he was often out. As far as I know he lived alone. I never saw anyone else go into the flat.

'I had no idea he had travelled to Milan. I was completely shocked to hear about him being arrested.'

Another neighbour, who works as a quality controller for Dreams bedroom store, said: 'The last time I saw him was three weeks ago.

'He used to drive a red Toyota and come racing up to the front door before driving off again about half an hour later. He was never in the flat for long.

'He was always dressed in suits, but he never said anything. He never gave the impression of being friendly.'

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: 'We have been providing consular support to a British woman in Italy and are in touch with local authorities.'