Claims Sheffield tot Ben Needham was abducted in black speedboat dismissed
![Ben Needham](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_80575706.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Ben Needham](/img/placeholder.png)
South Yorkshire Police officers on the island dismissed reports in The Mirror that a black speedboat was used to kidnap Ben, who would now be 26 years old.
Speaking from Kos, Det Insp Jon Cousins said: “I have no idea where they got the black speedboat from – it certainly wasn’t from police.
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Hide Ad![DI Jon Cousins from South yorkshire Police who is leading the Ben Needham case in the UK Picture Dean Atkins](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_80660972.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![DI Jon Cousins from South yorkshire Police who is leading the Ben Needham case in the UK Picture Dean Atkins](/img/placeholder.png)
“I was asked about boats, because Ben was taken off the island, and we are doing a number of enquiries, but nothing came from us.”
The Star reported yesterday that a mystery caller contacted police in 1993 claiming they knew where Ben was.
The caller claimed that Ben was being looked after by a man called Nikos and that his name had been changed to Andreas.
DI Cousins said urged the caller to come forward and help the investigation.
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He told The Star: “There are a number of lines of enquiry into who Nikos might be which, of course, we are following.”
A team of 10 South Yorkshire Police officers are on the island investigating Ben’s abduction from a farmhouse.
Ben was 21 months old when he vanished on July 24, 1991, after travelling to the island with his mum and grandparents. There have been a number of possible sightings.
Mum Kerry Needham praised the efforts of the officers investigating Ben’s abduction. She said: “We need to look to the future and remain positive and hopefully get some answers.”