According to authorities, a British entrepreneur and former honorary consul for the UK has been freed after being abducted in Ecuador four days ago.
According to a police report reviewed by the Guardian, Colin Armstrong, age 78, and his partner Katherine Paola Santos were abducted on Saturday morning from their residence in Baba. The report stated that Armstrong was taken in his personal black BMW, which was later discovered abandoned.
Gen César Zapata, the head of Ecuador’s national police, stated on Wednesday that Armstrong is currently in good health and safe. A photo was shared on X of Armstrong standing between officers. According to police, nine individuals have been taken into custody in relation to the kidnapping.
Ecuador’s Minister of the Interior, Monica Palencia, declared on X that they will not tolerate impunity and that law enforcement efforts are ongoing.
Armstrong previously served as the UK’s honorary consul in Guayaquil, offering consular support, until stepping down in 2016. He is the creator and proprietor of Agripac, a notable agricultural business in Ecuador, and possesses the expansive 500 acre Tupgill Park estate in North Yorkshire. In 2011, he was presented with the OBE and CMG honors.
The British envoy to Ecuador, Chris Campbell, expressed joy over the safe release of Colin Armstrong OBE, who previously served as honorary consul in Guayaquil.
Armstrong was saved by the police while traveling on the route to Manabi, a province on the coast of Ecuador. A video circulating on social media on Saturday displayed the alleged residence where he was abducted, revealing bloodied sheets on a bed and rooms in disarray.
According to the International Crisis Group in 2022, there has been a rise in criminal violence in Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador. Despite being perceived as relatively safe compared to other countries in the region, Ecuador has experienced a significant increase in violence due to the drug trade and economic struggles in Latin America.
In this situation, the newly inaugurated president, Daniel Noboa, has made a commitment to combat the presence of drug cartels and organized crime. He has also vowed to gain authority over Guayaquil, a city known for exporting cocaine to the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Source: theguardian.com
