A Cuban couple was arrested in Suriname as part of the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the 52-year-old Dutch film producer Rodney Leysner, whose vehicle was found burned, crushed, and buried in a swamp.
Cubans are among the three suspects detained so far, while a fourth person remains at large, according to reports from NOS and NL Times.
Leysner has been missing since Saturday, August 15, when he left to attend a work meeting in the Saramacca district, west of Paramaribo. His last known activity was around 4:43 PM, and since then, no one has been able to reach him.
His mother, Dulci Bunsee, later made a desperate plea on social media: "Help me find my son."
The investigation took a turn on August 21 and 22, when the police discovered a burnt and crushed vehicle that had been buried in a Saramacca swamp.
Although it was severely damaged, investigators were able to recover the chassis number and confirmed that it corresponded to Leysner's white Kia Sorento, license plate PP 21-35, as reported by the Surinamese media Starnieuws.
Following that discovery, the authorities began to formally investigate the disappearance as a possible crime.
Three detained and one suspect at large
In addition to the Cuban couple, the authorities arrested a Surinamese citizen.
A suspicious individual, identified by local media as Ryan T., remains at large. The police have searched several homes in their pursuit, but as of this Tuesday, they have not been able to locate him.
According to a report by De Telegraaf, the suspect's voice may be heard in some of the latest known images of Leysner, according to experts consulted by the newspaper.
The producer's body had not been located until the latest available information. The police requested that speculation about his whereabouts be avoided while the investigation continues.
Recognized producer and entrepreneur
Leysner is known both in the Netherlands and in Suriname for his career in film and business.
He participated as a producer in films such as Heksen bestaan niet (2014) and Fashion Chicks (2015), which received the Gold Movie Award after surpassing 100,000 viewers in Dutch cinemas. He was also involved in the production of Suriname (2020) and worked as a DJ under the stage name Sam Sin.
In Suriname, he also held a managerial position at Rudisa, one of the country's main business conglomerates, with interests in sectors such as media, automotive industry, and food.
His family launched a campaign on GoFundMe to finance search efforts, which had raised almost 28,000 euros out of a goal of 30,000 euros.
"We want to do everything in our power to find Rodney and gain clarity about what happened to him," the family expressed, according to a report by RTL.
The case occurs after other violent incidents involving Cubans in Suriname. In June, a Cuban woman managed to escape from her captors and reported an alleged trafficking network, an investigation that ended with the arrest of a Cuban and a Surinamese.
In July 2025, a Cuban woman was murdered in Suriname in front of her daughter.
For now, the authorities have not stated what role they attribute to the detained Cuban couple nor have they announced formal charges against them. The investigation continues while Leysner's family waits to find out what happened to the producer since that afternoon of August 15.
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