Maybe they are playing psy ops...
Perhaps they caught this guy and made sure the media picked up the "detainment" and "release"...but instead of letting him go they are "interrogating" him....the bad guys will be trying to contact him or waiting for him to contact them to complete their "job", but they can't find him. They'll be wondering what this guy is tell us. It should drive them crazy. lol
Good thoughts...especially since someone is probably waiting to receive the $20,000 that this guy was carrying; and the police are now keeping.
I really really really hope you are right.