( CNN ) -- A Colombian man , possibly linked with paramilitaries there , may be the mastermind behind the kidnapping in Venezuela of major league catcher Wilson Ramos , Venezuelan Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said Saturday . Authorities have identified him and an arrest warrant is being issued , he said . Six Venezuelans have been arrested in the case , and more arrests are possible as the investigation continues , El Aissami said . Ramos was rescued Friday night after a shootout between his suspected captors and rescuers in the mountainous region of Montalban , about 60 miles from the north central Venezuelan city where he was last seen . He is healthy and unharmed , authorities said . After the suspected captors opened fire on authorities , `` we responded in a proportional way , but not in a way that would put at risk ( Ramos ' ) rescue , '' El Aissami said at a news conference . The minister praised the bravery of the national guard troops who participated in the operation , singling out one guardsman who was under fire for several minutes `` but did not retreat . '' The day after Ramos went missing , investigators found the SUV used in the kidnapping , but had few clues to lead them to the perpetrators , he said . So investigators focused on intelligence work -- matching the description of the snatching to the modus operandi of known criminal groups -- and eventually located a home where they believed Ramos was held . Venezuelan President Chavez himself authorized the operation on the house , which included using helicopters to deliver the rescue team near its target , El Aissami said . This house was , the team learned , a logistical base used by the kidnappers . According to the minister , it was the place where food and other logistics were prepared and then transferred to another location , where Ramos was actually being held . The owners of the home , Lesbia Quesada , 60 , and Aristides Sanchez , 64 , were accused of being accomplices to the crime and were arrested , he said . The rescue team then learned of a second home in an isolated area where Ramos was believed to be hiding . The trek there took three hours for the rescue team , as there were parts they could traverse only on foor , El Aissami said . When they neared the second target , they were met with gunfire , and , according to the minister , that 's how they knew Ramos was inside . Authorities arrested Alexander Sanchez , 27 ; Francisco Finamor Penna , 20 ; Yosnar Cubillan , 21 ; and Anyuli Tarazona , 22 . But it was a Colombian man , possibly linked to paramilitaries , who gave the orders , El Aissami said . This man identified Ramos , got the information on his home , located his relatives and gave the orders to carry out the kidnapping , El Aissami said . Ramos was full of thanks to his rescuers and his supporters upon his arrival at his family home in Venezuela early Saturday . `` I am very happy for the rescue operation they carried out . Very thankful to the government and the national army , '' Ramos told reporters . `` I did n't expect them . Where they were holding me captive was a very remote place , basically a jungle , and see , I was praying to God to bring me home safely to my family and look at these guys , they risked their lives to save mine and I am very thankful . '' Ramos , a rising star for the Washington Nationals as a rookie this past year , was in his native country to play in Venezuela 's winter league . Washington Nationals officials applauded the news of his rescue . `` I am happy to announce that I have spoken directly with Wilson and he assures me he is unharmed , '' said Mike Rizzo , the team 's general manager . `` He asked me to thank all who played a role in his rescue , and all those who kept him and his family in their thoughts and prayers . '' Ramos , 24 , emerged as the team 's top catcher this past season . He had a .267 batting average with 15 home runs and 52 runs batted in . Though soccer reigns in most Latin American countries , baseball rules in Venezuela , which routinely feeds players to major league teams in the United States .
NEW : Six people have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping . NEW : Police are looking for a Colombian man who allegedly gave orders . The Associated Press contributed to this report.