Four men have appeared in the Gisborne District Court on Friday on kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges after a car deal went wrong.
Police say a Hilux ute was put on auction site TradeMe in December last year and in January was swapped for another car owned by a man from Opotiki.
The other car, a Nissan Skyline, recently broke down.
Detective Sergeant Theo Akroyd says the people involved in the swap met on Thursday night after the Opotiki man realised that he had left his wallet and some money in the Nissan.
Police say the Nissan owner was kidnapped at gunpoint before being dropped off unharmed near Hell's Gate later in the night.
Four men aged between 17 and 22 have been charged with aggravated robbery, kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection to the incident.
They have released on bail to reappear on Monday.
