A British businessman and former UK honorary consul, Colin Armstrong, 78, was rescued on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, following a four-day kidnapping ordeal in Ecuador.
Armstrong, known for his role as the UK’s former Honorary Consul in Guayaquil, was abducted from his ranch in the Los Rios province alongside his Colombian girlfriend, Katherine Paola Santos, by 15 armed men in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 16.
The kidnappers, reportedly disguised as police officers, forced entry into Armstrong’s property, leading to his subsequent disappearance.
A report has claimed that he was abducted by a cartel after refusing to pay protection money.
During the kidnapped businessman’s ordeal, video footage surfaced showing his girlfriend positioned amongst a bomb disposal team as they attempted to remove an explosive-laden vest she was reportedly forced to wear by her abductors.
She claimed the vest was rigged to detonate unless a ransom was paid. Authorities are investigating her involvement in the incident, questioning her about the nature of her abduction and subsequent release. They suspect that she might have played some role in the attempted shakedown.
General Cesar Augusto Zapata Correa, the commander of the National Police of Ecuador, announced that Armstrong had been rescued on a roadway near Manabi, close to where he was initially taken.
Armstrong appeared between two police officers in a circulated image, wearing a dark blue sweater and a police baseball cap. His physical condition was reported as “safe and healthy” by Zapata Correa, who also confirmed the arrest of nine individuals in connection with the kidnapping.
Armstrong, a respected figure in the agricultural sector, is the founder of Agripac, an agricultural products supply company in Ecuador established in 1972.
He is also the owner of the 500-acre Tupgill Park Estate in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, known for attracting over 150,000 visitors annually to its unique attraction, the Forbidden Corner.
Chris Campbell, the UK’s ambassador to Ecuador, expressed gratitude towards the Ecuadorian police for their efforts in securing his release.
Abductions for extorting money have grown more frequent in Ecuador as a consequence of escalating crime, which is primarily blamed on drug cartels.
