27-9-2024 (OSLO) Norwegian authorities have launched an international manhunt for Rinson Jose, a 39-year-old Norwegian-Indian businessman, in connection with the explosive pagers allegedly supplied to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Oslo police department confirmed on 26 September that they had issued a global search request for Jose, who vanished during a work-related trip to the United States last week.
Jose, a founder of a Bulgarian company reportedly involved in the pager supply chain, has become a person of interest following the detonation of these devices on 17 September. The incident has sparked a complex international investigation, drawing attention to the intricate networks of global technology supply chains.
“We received a missing person report related to the pager case on 25 September,” an Oslo police spokesperson stated via email. “Subsequently, we’ve opened a missing persons case and dispatched an international warrant for the individual in question.”
When contacted by phone on 18 September regarding the pagers, Jose declined to comment and abruptly ended the call when questioned about his Bulgarian business interests. Subsequent attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful.
Jose’s employer, DN Media Group, where he works in the sales department, reported that he departed for a conference in Boston on 17 September. The company has been unable to establish contact with him since 18 September, raising concerns about his whereabouts and well-being.
Bulgarian corporate records show that Jose founded Sofia-based Norta Global in 2022. While Bulgarian authorities have investigated the company’s potential role in supplying the booby-trapped pagers, they have yet to uncover evidence suggesting the devices were manufactured or exported from Bulgaria.
